Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 

in  2012  with  funding  from 

University  of  Illinois  Urbana-Champaign 


http://archive.org/details/historyofmcleanc01hasb 


Of  TH£ 


JACOB  L.  HASBROUCK. 


HISTORY 

of 


McLEAN  COUNTY 

ILLINOIS 


By 
JACOB  L.  HASBROUCK 


IN  TWO  VOLUMES 


ILLUSTRATED 


VOLUME   ONE 


Historical  Publishing  Company 

topeka-lndianapolis 

1924 


311,  • 


-• 


EDITOR'S   PREFACE 


McLean  County  has  just  rounded  out  its  first  century  of  civilized  life. 
During  the  autumn  of  1922  there  were  held  certain  ceremonies  com- 
memorating the  Centennial  Anniversary  of  the  first  settlements  of  the 
county  by  white  men.  From  that  distant  time  to  the  present,  stretches  a 
period  of  years  marked  by  the  most  momentous  events  in  the  world's  his- 
tory at  large,  and  the  entire  recorded  history  of  this  county.  In  the  space 
of  less  than  four  generations,  the  territory  now  comprising  McLean 
County,  has  changed  from  an  unbounded  wilderness,  y-;z\  in  potential 
greatness,  but  all  undeveloped,  into  an  e  ..cent  and  a  kingdom  in 

wealth,  prosperity,  and  the  influence  of  its  people. 

The  history  of  the  pioneer  times  of  this  county  has  been  written  pretty 
fully  in  years  gone  by  by  able  men  who  were  personally  acquainted  with 
its  conditions  and  the  men  and  women  who  made  it.  To  these  historians 
I  am  indebted  for  most  of  the  facts  connected,  with  the  strictly  formative 
period  of  the  county.  They  include  E.  M.  Prince,  Capt.  J.  H.  Burnham, 
Prof.  Duis,  publisher  of  "Good  Old  Times,"  Prof.  John  W.  Cook  and  many 
others  who  have  passed  to  their  reward,  and  to  E.  Rhoads,  custodian  of 
the  McLean  County  Historical  society  and  its  officers,  and  to  Milo  Custer 
of  the  Central  Illinois  Historical  society.  Especially  have  the  records  and 
relics  of  the  McLean  County  Historical  society  museum  been  of  value  in 
this  connection. 

It  is  hoped  in  presenting  this  work  to  bring  the  history  of  the  county 
down  to  date  and  to  make  note  of  many  of  the  modern  phases  of  life  and 
its  people.  We  put  it  forth  and  commend  it  to  the  charitable  judgment 
of  our  contemporaries  and  of  future  generations. 

Jacob  L.  Hasbrouck. 
Bloomington,  111.,  May  1,  192 A. 


89 ! 949 


INDEX 


Abbott,  J.  E.  598 

Adams,    Ira   D.   816 

Agle,    George    407 

Aldrich,  Carlon  Cook 1281 

Aldrich,  Frank    W.    1280 

Alexander,   W.   D.   1218 

Allen,  Mattie  1164 

Allin,    William    P.    903 

Allison,  Frank    649 

Ambrose,    Edward   665 

Anderson,  James    G.   772 

Anderson,  Millard    F.    1044 

Anderson,  William     673 

Arbogast,  W.  J.   565 

Argo,  H.  H. 865 

Armstrong,  DeWitt   T.    1243 

Armstrong,  Russell    926 

Armstrong,  Van    654 

Arnold,  Noah   A.   833 

Arnold,  Scott     1203 

Arrowsmith,   E.   H. - 1240 

Ashabran,  J.  W. -  614 

Atkinson,    Charles    780 

Augustine,  Archie  M. 448 

Augustine,   Henry    449 

Augstin,    Daniel    881 

Ausmus,   Jessie    Ross    970 

Bach,  William  R. 851 

Backlund,   Andrew   O.   1009 

Baillie,    Charles    Tuffer    436 

Ball,  John  S.   594 

Bane,  G.    E.   1127 

Bane,  Russel   W.    813 

Barclay,   John   W.    867 

Barker,    Charley   826 

Barley,   Frank   C.   974 

Barnard,  Austin  Y. 1059 

Barnes,  J.  H. 1295 

Barnes,  John    L.    1234 

Barniville,    Robert    1253 

Barton,  John   1191 


Barton,    R.   W.    1012 

Batterton,   Roy  W.  534 

Bean,    Sidney    B.    580 

Beatty,    Estell    1245 

Beck,  John  A. 1219 

Beckwith,  John  Wesley 606 

Beich,    Paul   F.   845 

Beier,    Olliver    1230 

Belcher,    Albert    W.    434 

Beller,  Andrew 824 

Benedict,   George   1229 

Benjamin,  A.   P.     1067 

Benjamin,  Frank    W.    862 

Benjamin,  Timothy    571 

Bent,   Horatio   G.   520 

Bevan,  Harry  H.   1003 

Bilbrey,   Allen  817 

Bingham,    W.    S.    1140 

Bischoff,  Albert 550 

Bishop,  D.  D.  538 

Blair,    Moses    579 

Blose,    Frank    H.   446 

Blue,   William   1190 

Bode,  William  H.  899 

Bohrer,  Jacob  A.   483 

Bracken,   William    K.   808 

Brady,  John  775 

Brady,  R.    J.    739 

Braley,  Theodore  A. 584 

Brand,   Edward  Parrish 472 

Branson,    John    959 

Bressie,    Albert   J.    963 

Britt,    John    C.    _. 1116 

Brock,   Enoch   498 

Brokaw,  J.  T.   1158 

BroLeen,  David  A. 462 

Brown,  Allen    542 

Brown,  C.    C.    1195 

Brown,  Charles    S.    755 

Brown,  G.    H.    829 

Brown,  George   E. 633 

Brown,  J.  T.   1098 


History  of  McLean  County 


Broyhill,  George  C. 527 

Bruce,   W.   H.   1014 

Brucker,    Charles   1238 

Brust,  Pliney    E.    __, 1257 

Buck,  Thomas  Lee 904 

Buckles,   Elizabeth   M.   1090 

Builta,  Fred  C. 1254 

Builta,  George   A.    1256 

Builta,  Mary   E.   1255 

Builta,  Roselia   Jane   1255 

Bunney,  J.   T.   1259 

Burdett,  Arthur  L.  1065 

Burke,  C.  B.  1286 

Burnham,  John  Howard   1261 

Burns,   Willard  1253 

Burr,    Hudson    732 

Burbank,  E.  H. 818 

Burtis,  Willam  T.   C.   661 

Busby,   George  W.  771 

Butler,   Harry   1209 

Cantrell,  Thomas  D. 412 

Capen,   Charles  L.   507 

Carlock,  Horace   Burton 878 

Carmody,   Edward  J.    910 

Carnahan,    A.    G.    518 

Carroll,   Edward  J.   1207 

Carson,  G.    M.    1134 

Carson,  N.  B. 470 

Cavins,    Lester   B.    1058 

Chaddon,    Roy    839 

Champion,  George 549 

Champion,  Thomas  Ellis 424 

Chapin,   Charles   E.   624 

Chapman,  P.  A.   964 

Chism,    Perry    842 

Chrisman,  Edward  W.  991 

Claggett,  R.  T.  650 

Cline,   Noah  W. 596 

Claudon,  David    Nicholas    717 

Claudon,  J.    H.    1215 

Claudon,  Jesse   D.   719 

Coale,    Benjamin    1005 

Colaw,  William 952 

Cole,  John   C.   1027 

Conery,    James    1244 

Cooksley,    Isaac    1087 

Copenhaver,  J.   H.   1137 

Coss,   Leander 1115 


Costello,  James  J.  1173 

Cowan,  F.  C. 1119 

Cox,  Ernest  E.  770 

Coyle,   A.    L.    923 

Craig,  Ebenezer   1099 

Creel,   Charles  435 

Crookshank,  John  A. 1194 

Crowder,   Herbert   W.   1247 

Crowley,  James   A.   834 

Crumbaugh,   Hiram   H.    1076 

Cunliffe,   Arthur   599 

Curley,    Michael   J.   998 

Curry,    Bernice    944 

Curtis,  T. 735 

Dahm,    Louis    605 

Dalton,  John    H.    913 

Danforth,   Henry   P.   1166 

Darnall,  Warren  C. 1290 

Dauel,   Louis   W.   460 

Daugherty,  Albert  E. 1048 

Davidson,  George    Allen    1249 

Davidson,  John    B.    1250 

Davis,  David    793 

Davis,  George   Perrin  792 

Davis,  Judge  David 257-791 

Davis,  Leta   C.   415 

Davis,  Mercer   794 

Davis,  Sam    E.    1273 

Davis,  William   Osborn 1179 

Dawson,  O.   F.  680 

Dawson,  Thomas    A.    _, 642 

Deetz,  Clarence 831 

Deleno,  William 814 

Dement,   Nettie    Bills   621 

DePew,   Earl   Russell   908 

Diggle,  H.   E.   953 

Dillon,  Adolphus   938 

Dooley,  George    E.    1184 

Dooley,  Lue    1103 

Dooley,  O.  M. 1102 

Dotson,   Charles   1114 

Douglass,  E.   B.   1172 

Douglass,  O.  Vaughan 907 

Downey,  M.    R.    776 

Downey,  Thomas   M. 1004 

Downs,   Edward  S.   582 

Duncan,    Charles    M.    918 

Dunlap,  M.   1189 


History  of  McLean  County 


Dunlap,  Oliver   W.   496 

Dunn,  Richard  F. 973 

Eckhart,    George    766 

Edwards,  Ralph  O. 987 

Edwards.  William    H.    672 

Ehlers,    Fred    822 

Elbert,  N.  L.  806 

Elson,  Elmo 687 

Engle,  W.  F. 437 

Enright,   Thomas,  Jr.    758 

Erickson,  A.  G. 906 

Erickson,  Edwin     1007 

Evans,  Charles   Thomas   1001 

Evans,  E.    M.    1063 

Ewins,  Chester  R. r-  873 

Eyestone,  F.  A. 525 

Farlow,    Lawrence    Edgar    406 

Farmers  Bank  of  Chenoa 1221 

Feicht,   John    441 

Felmley,    David    488 

Ferguson,    Wilbert    947 

Fever,   William    H.    762 

Ficken,  C.  H. 796 

Fielding,   James    781 

Fincham,   Palmer 795 

Finley,   Stephen   A.   653 

Fischbach,    Frank    950 

Fisher,  Frank    Crist    1168 

Fisher,  Joseph    860 

Fissel,  August 548 

Fitchhorn,   Marshel   875 

Fitzgerrell,  D.  G. 486 

FitzHenry,    Louis    1036 

Fitzpatrick,  John   F.   1192 

Flegel,    Robert    1091 

Fleming,   Florence  Sample 1062 

Flesher,  E.   L. 864 

Flesher,   Harry   E. 613 

Fletcher,   Joseph   A.    821 

Flinspach,  George    1129 

Flinspach,  Henry   812 

Flint,   Charles  A.   1142 

Foltz,   Clarence 759 

Forman,    Louie   1074 

Forrest,   John    B.    1252 

Foster,    Harrison    805 

Foulk,  F.  S. 574 


Fox,  Asa  L. 398 

Fox,  Ralph    D.    397 

Franklin,  Bertram   Adolph   471 

Franklin,  Noah   656 

Franklin,  Wesley    P.    638 

Froehlich,  W.   E.  726 

Fulton,  Albert 1262 

Fulton,  James   858 

Funk,  Deane   N. 898 

Funk,  Eugene  D. 1069 

Funk,  Frank   H.   1054 

Funk,  John     901 

Gaddis,  James   835 

Garrison,  Guy   L. 1106 

Garretson,  W.  P. 511 

Gerbrick,  Marcus 887 

Gerken,  William  A. 752 

Gerling,   L.   C. 1125 

Giermann,    Paul    F.    519 

Gillespie,  C.   J.    710 

Gillespie,   Frank    M.    936 

Gillespie,  James    Frank   478 

Gillespie,  Park    C.    480 

Goff,  Fred  W. 543 

Golden,   Mayo  1153 

Gomien,   Amos    787 

Gooch,  De  Witt  R. 1146 

Goodwin,  John  A.   784 

Gose,    Charles   William    1133 

Graves,  Arthur    J.    578 

Graves,   Clinton    E.    856 

Gravett,    Clarence    M.    892 

Gray,  De  Witt  G. 939 

Gray,  George  T. 940 

Gray,  John  W.   986 

Green,  Benoni   S.   744 

Green,  H.    W.    978 

Green,  Tracy   524 

Greenleaf,  Paul    E.    421 

Gregory,    Ira    750 

Griesheim,    Wolf   402 

Griffin,   F.   C.   1122 

Griffin,  Wyett   P.   933 

Guard,    Ed   1086 

Guild,  Cliff 492 

Guingrich,   J.    P. 1010 

Gummermann,  John   B.   1051 

Guthrie,  Parmeno  A. 1035 


History  of  McLean  County 


Habecker,  J.  N. ._ 871 

Hall,  Calvin  Springer 712 

Hall,  Homer   W.    847 

Halsey,    Alexander    1068 

Hamilton,  Clair   O.   444 

Hamilton,  Franklin    Young    444 

Hamilton,  O.  C. 5< 

Hanna,  George   Stipp   736 

Hanson,  Charles  P. 468 

Hanson,  Frank  O.   942 

Harris,  Glenn    C.    1233 

Harris,  John    C.    872 

Hart,  Edson    B.   625 

Hart,  Harlan    H.   627 

Harwood,   Thomas    F.    601 

Harwood,  Thomas    Fitch    602 

Harwood,  Willis    S.    600 

Hasbrouck,  Jacob   Louis   1185 

Hatfield,  John  H. 954 

Havens,  Hiram  669 

Hawks,  Joseph,   K.   P.   626 

Hawthorne,  William  H. 678 

Hay,  Louis  C. 632 

Hayden,   Thomas  J.   562 

Heafer,  Edgar  M.   1080 

Heagler,  Francis   H.   1237 

Healy,   Cornelius  685 

Heberling,    George    C.    . 431 

Heineman,   A.   F.   849 

Heiple,    J.    R.    922 

Henderson,  Albert   F.   457 

Henninger,  E.  L. 537 

Hensley,   Alexander   641 

Herder,   Charles    609 

Herman,  James  M.   1258 

Hersey,  Lynn  E. 1016 

Higdon,   Ernest   Eugene   1050 

Hill,  William 592 

Hilpert,  John  W.   1112 

Hilton,  Guy    A.    877 

Hilton,  Jacob   N.   576 

Hoblit,   H.   K.   477 

Hogben,  Frederick  D. 840 

Holland,    Edward    1053 

Holton,  Campbell    493 

Holton,  Thomas   T.    504 

Hoopes,  Albert  Harwood 1055 

Hoose,   Oscar   G.   535 

Hopt,    Peter    967 


Hoselton,  J.  C.  508 

Hougham,  F.   B 1266 

"Hougham,   James   A.    868 

Hougham,   R.   L.   1203 

House,  C.  M. 962 

Houston,  Louis 1265 

Howell,  Harry  Lee 426 

Howell,  Vinton    E.    439 

Hudson,   J.   Heber   475 

Huffington,    Glenn    555 

Hughes,  C.    R.    757 

Hughes,   Clinton  B. 481 

Humphreys  &  Company,  J.  H. 1270 

Humphreys,   Howard    1269 

Humphreys,  John    F.    1268 

Humphreys,  Rogers    1270 

Humphries,  Paul    A.    924 

Humphries,  William   663 

Hutson,  Austin  L.  900 

Hyneman,   L.   F. 617 

Iden,   Joseph    H.    : 1079 

Ijams,  W.   M.   855 

Illinois   Feed   and   Elevator   Co 530 

Irwin,  S.   P.   563 

Jacobs,  J.    H.    1130 

Jacobs,  John    715 

Jefferies,  John 581 

Jenny,  M.   E.   . 651 

Jenson,    James    1154 

Johnson,  Charles    1245 

Johnson  Family,  W.   C.  1073 

Johnson,  Howard    K.    1045 

Johnson,  Lyford  McChesney 1232 

Johnson,  Robert    R.    1046 

Johnston,  John    S.   646 

Joiner,    C,  E.   1093 

Jones,  Bennie 1275 

Jones,  F.    E.    1095 

Jones,  R.    G.    1024 

Jones,  Robert   E.   644 

Jontry,  James    E.    677 

Kahle,  Edward  and  Walter 937 

Kauffman,   Carey   F.   891 

Kaufman,    Elmer   741 

Keady,   Alex    539 

Keeran,  Elmer 1214 


History  of  McLean  County 


Keiser,  Henry 705 

Kelly,  James   S.   1221 

Kelly,  H.    W.    1174 

Kelso,  George  B. 1088 

Kennedy,  T.  F. 788 

Kennedy,  Thomas    400 

Kennedy,  Walter   1117 

Keogh,  W. 595 

Kerber,  Edward   __: 1246 

Kerber,  Fred   827 

Kerr,  Charles  Roy 681 

Kerrick,  Thomas   C.   394 

Kilgore,  Thomas  B. 616 

Killian,  John   C.   1015 

Kimball,    Caroline    F.    515 

Kimler,   R.   E.   977 

King,  Austin   927 

King,  J.  H. 1025 

Kinnie,  J.  S. 972 

Kinnie,  Sage   H.   971 

Kinsella,  C.    W.    896 

Kinsella,  Michael   911 

Kinsella,  Thomas    H.    965 

Kinzinger,   E.   A.   866 

Kirkpatrick,  Jonathan   H. 1211 

Kitch,  John  A.   1020 

Klassen,  John  H. 721 

Klein,  John 768 

Klein,  Phillip 943 

Klemm,  C.   W.    467 

Klemm,  Julius    P.    466 

Koch,  Caroline  T.   1057 

Koch,  Christian    F.    1056 

Kollman,   John    1202 

Kranzusch,   Frank  A.   963 

Krieg,    Simon    1105 

Krum,  E.    P.    1227 

Krum, -Guy    S.    1226 

Krum,  R.    S.    _- 1224 

Kruse,   Albert   815 

Kuhn,   Bert   Marley 547 

Kummer,   Harry   C.   1006 

Kyle,    O.    A.    487 

LamBeau,  V.   E.  J.  912 

Lander,  Robert  W.   870 

Langstaff,  John   L.   631 

Lanter,  Enos  I. 551 

Lanier,  E.  B. 854 


Larrison,  G.   B.   1019 

Lasky,  W.  E. 1170 

Lauritson,    Louis    1122 

Lausterer,  William  F. 830 

Lawrence,  C.    B.    1264 

Lawrence,  Gilbert    786 

Lawrence,  N.    P.    1111 

Leary,   Daniel   D.   1282 

Leech,  Robert  K.  443 

Lehmann,  Joseph  A. 459 

Lehr,  Adam   773 

Lighthart,  Frederick 843 

Lillard,  John   T. 469 

Lindheimer,  Horace   G.   916 

Lindsay,   Calvin   G.   1167 

Lindsay,  W.  C,  Jr. 621 

Lindsay,  W.    C,    Sr.    619 

Livingston,   Milton  R. 491 

Livingston,  S.   P.    660 

Long,    William    G.    648 

Lord,  Marcus  M.  676 

Lorig,  John   M.   789 

Lundgren,  Harlan   O.   799 

Lyons,  E.   S.   980 

Lyons,  U.    S.    798 

McBarnes,    John    1026 

McCann,    B.    H.    1040 

McCarty,  Francis  A. 988 

McClure,   Marion   L   463 

McClurg,    Logan    591 

McConnell,  William  M. 1085 

McCormick,  Ferdinand  C. 541 

McCormick,  Henry  G. 564 

McCormick,  Nelson    K.    983 

McDowell,   Samuel   Kline   528 

McElvaney,    Robert    B.    1204 

McFee,    Pulaski    1128 

Mcintosh,   William   783 

Mclntyre,    Allan    1148 

McKinney,    Alonzo    510 

McKnight,  William  W.  554 

McLean,  Richard  Warren 993 

McNaught,   Joseph    B.   664 

McNutt,  James  C. 920 

Magill,   L.    M.   630 

MaGirl,   P.   H. 1279 

Mahan,   Edward   Curtis   662 


History  of  McLean  County 


Manahan,  John  W.   1126 

Manchester,  Orson  L. 500 

Mandel,    Oscar    1096 

Maple,    Frank    674 

Marius,    M.    H.    1022 

Markland,    Lucien    711 

Marquis,    DuBois   957 

Marsh,   John    1123 

Martens,   E.   C.   533 

Martens,  E.  W. 526 

Martensen,    John    1163 

Martin,  Lester  H.   534 

Masso,  Charles    917 

Masso,  Emil    933 

Maurice,    Thomas    W.    1272 

Means,  W.   C.   429 

Meeker,   Edward   B.   1165 

Meiner,   George   H.   1049 

Merritt,    E.    M.    1156 

Messer,  Frank    670 

Messer,  John    L.    763 

Meyer,  Albert   W.    1144 

Meyer,  Frederick  1145 

Mikel,  John   573 

Miller,  A.   B.   869 

Miller,  Frank    I.    1131 

Miller,  George   H.    413 

Miller,  Henry  N.   885 

Miller,  Samuel    968 

Miller,   William    R.    596 

Minch,   Frank   P.   994 

Moews,    Andrew    961 

Moncelle,    Charles   667 

Moon,    John    1052 

Moore,  Eldo  M. 1276 

Moore,   L.   W. 634 

Moore,  Palmer    Q.    440 

Moore,  William  H.   804 

Morrison,  Jacob  E.   536 

Mortland,   W.    E.    1198 

Murphy,    Isaac    1110 

Murray,  Paul     1106 

Murray,  Peter  E. 583 

Murray,  Thomas    P.    1033 

Musselman,   Wallace  J.   1171 

Myers,    Clarence    1107 

Nafziger,   August  897 

Naylor,  William 828 


Neal,  Rolla  Basil 552 

Neuhauser,  Edwin  V. 740 

Newlin,   Clayton   J.    1023 

Nickel,  Victor  L.   675 

Oberkoetter,  Frank  1176 

Oberkoetter,  Frank 1177 

Oberkoetter,  Henry    • 1178 

O'Connell,   Richard   M.    1175 

O'Donnell,   James    F.    1152 

Ogden,  Albert  S. 659 

Ogden,  Frank   968 

Olander,   Barney    L.   1236 

Oliver,    Marion    1101 

Olson,   Ola  1120 

O'Neil,  Daniel   M.   560 

O'Neil,  Daniel  P. 561 

Owens,  John  B. 540 

Packard,  Francis  A. 611 

Parham,  Nellie  E. 482 

Parke,  George  W.   588 

Parker,  James   William 422 

Patton,  Claud  C. 1231 

Patton,  H.    Bert   419 

Patton,  Tilden  M.   628 

Paul,   Lee   P.   1251 

Paullin,   William   Arthur 1271 

Peasley,  Granville    1048 

Peasley,  Isaac    N.    960 

Peck,    Charles    921 

Percy,  John   S.   1075 

Pershina,    Rudolph    684 

Peters,    Harry    H.    417 

Peterson,  Albert    Wilhelm    1160 

Peterson,  Paul    1222 

Petrie,  Frank  H. 566 

Pickering,    Oscar   825 

Pierson,   Arthur   Van    Dyke 640 

Pike,  E.    M.    946 

Pike,  Noah   H.  679 

Pitzer,  S.  J. 819 

Piatt,  William  E. 657 

Poole,   L.   D.   966 

Popejoy,   Isaac   802 

Porter,    Families    of   James   and    Ra- 
chel    544 

Powell,  Frank 797 

Prather,  J.  W. 589 


History  of  McLean  County 


Preston,    George    1283 

Price,  C.   N.  1135 

Price,  Scott    995 

Priest,  George  W. 652 

Pringle,  Ralph  W.  969 

Punke,  Gustave 848 

Quinn,  M.  F. 1032 

Ramage,  M.   F.  597 

Ramseyer,  M.   L.   671 

Ransom,  Charles  E. 658 

Reece,   John   Stewart   909 

Reeder,    Samuel   James    863 

Reeves,  Gilbert   754 

Reynolds,   Elzy 782 

Reynolds,   Herman    L.    1191 

Reynolds,  Shepard    607 

Rhoades,  Aaron   P.   1101 

Rhoades,  Ora    M.    1100 

Rice,  Frank    M.    522 

Rice,  Joseph    F.    461 

Rich,  Joseph    S.    747 

Rich,  Silas    751 

Richardson,   Matthew  1021 

Rike,    W.    W.    820 

Richmond,    Joseph    E.    464 

Rigby,  Delia  H. 568 

Riley,  James    F.    608 

Rinkenberger,  John  F. 749 

Rinkenberger,  Samuel 748 

Risser,   Peter   1104 

Ritchie,  Robert 1157 

Ritter,   W.   H.   1235 

Robinson,   James    Edwin   512 

Rocke,  John 1136 

Rocke,  Jacob   716 

Rodee,  Hiram  A.   1178 

Rodgers,   John    W.   ___„ 497 

Rodman,  Oscar  O. 428 

Roeseler,   Adolph   767 

Rogers,  Arthur    E.    425 

Rogers,  Walter    C.    1124 

Rolofson,  John  J. 454 

Romans,    John    P.    935 

Ropp,  Walter  A.    882 

Ross,  Oscar  F. 836 

Rowley,   Charles   Smith   742 

Rupp,   Andrew   Oliver   745 


Rusmisell,   H.   L.   1042 

Rust,  Thomas  J. 1008 

Russum,   C.   H.   1060 

Ryburn,  Edward 1072 

Sager,  Edgar 668 

Sailor,   Daniel   D.   880 

Salch,    H.    M.    1205 

Sample,   Alfred   1061 

Sams,  Le  Roy  R. 837 

Sandham,    Grant    949 

Sargent,  Alonzo 603 

Sarver,   Lloyd    683 

Savidge,  Asa  M. 997 

Saxton,    J.    F.    1248 

Saxton,   W.    F.   1109 

Schad,  W.   D.   1016 

Schausten,   Julius   490 

Schmidt,     Henry    861 

Schmitt,    John    1228 

Schramm,    William    1018 

Schultz,    L.   J.   832 

Scott,  John    T.    1151 

Scott,  Walter   A.    1118 

Seibel,    Oscar   E.    1213 

Sellers,   George   M.   1200 

Settle,   W.   H.   955 

Shade,   C.   W.   984 

Sharp,    Benjamin    725 

Shaver,    John    637 

Shields,  John   P.   466 

Shiner,    John    D.    1174 

Sholty,   Jacob    1077 

Sholtey,  L.  W.  1289 

Shorthose,    Frank    E.    432 

Sieberns,    Walter    H.    733 

Simmons,    Aaron    Trabue    1043 

Simpson,   Ed  F.   1267 

Skaggs,    O.    P.   1029 

Sloan,    Edwin    P.    720 

Slown,  J.   M.   738 

Smith,  Charles    C.    '. 777 

Smith,  Dudley   Chase   556 

Smith,  George  J.   618 

Smith,  Grace   Sealey   1277 

Smith,  J.    E.    1138 

Smith,  John  R.  416 

Smith,  L.   H.   643 

Smith,  Robert  T. 823 


History  of  McLean  County 


Smith,  William  A. 639 

Snoddy,   David   L 1121 

Snyder,  D.  W.,  Jr.  ... 414 

Sommer,   J.    C.    1149 

Soper,  Clinton  P. 728 

Soper,  Horace   A.    731 

Soper,  Willard    Burr    729 

Spafford,    Ralph    499 

Spaid,    John    W.    1197 

Springer,  David    V.    1143 

Springer,  William   H.   890 

Stack,   John  J.   451 

Stautz,   William   A.   610 

Steele,  B.    W.    590 

Steele,  Hazel   --  724 

Stephenson,  C.  A.   494 

Stephenson,  John    H.    1028 

Stevenson,  Adlai    E.    255 

Stevenson,  Letitia    Green    930 

Stevenson,  Lewis   Green   _  928 

Stewart,  John  H.  979 

Stewart,  Walter   R.   753 

Sticklen,    H.    W.    810 

Stine,   H.    D.    1155 

Stone,    Hal    Marot    484 

Stoppenbeck,    Fred    1066 

Strange,  Algy  F.  989 

Strayer,    L.    B.    615 

Strimple,  William  O. 604 

Strubhar,  Valentine 459 

Struebing,    H.    C.   1150 

Stubblefield,  David   R.   1208 

Stubblefield,    Henry    B.    996 

Stubblefield,  Joseph    W.    570 

Stuckey,    Homer    756 

Stutzman,  David  M. 951 

Stutzman,  U.   G.   . 883 

Summerland,  Hannah  McBarnes 1210 

Supple,  Frank 844 

Sutter,    Joseph    915 

Sweet,  F.  C. 1013 

Sweeting,    Frank    E.    1064 

Swinehart,    George    888 

Sylvester,    Thomas    456 

Talbert,  John  C. 990 

Tanton,   T.    O.    761 

Taylor,    J.    Earl    925 

Tearney,  James 1034 


Teter,   Ralph  859 

Thielman,   August   1171 

Thiss,    Charles    807 

Thomas,    Charles    442 

Thomas,    S.    Edgar    1274 

Thompson,  A.   B. 1159 

Thompson,  D.    W.    1196 

Thompson,  Orris    M.    1092 

Tilden,  William  W. 433 

Tobias,  Arthur    H.    458 

Tobias,  James   F.  458 

Townley,  Wayne   C.  514 

Trautman,  John  A.   1206 

Trimble,   Charles   Edwin   1287 

Trimmer,  D.     F. 635 

Trimmer,   Manfred  J.   655 

Trimmer,  Walter  Havens 941 

Trohler,  Henry i 746 

Troyer,    Emmanuel    886 

Truckenbrod,  J.   C.   1169 

Tyner,    Arthur    P.    914 

Ulmer,  George 1241 

Ulmer,  H.    B.    1162 

Umstattd,  Charles   F.   1260 

Van  Alstyne,  H.  C. 774 

Vandervort,   Franklin    Cady 410 

Van  Dolah,  James  W. 765 

Van  Ness,   Sidney   B.   893 

Vansickle,  Charles  C. 1147 

Vaughan,  Hugh    682 

Vaughan,  John  G.  919 

Vercler,   Elmer  A.  723 

Vrooman,    Carl   S.   800 

Wait,   Guy   F.   975 

Wakefield,  Cyrenius    408 

Wakefield,  F.    L.   876 

Walden,    Wayne    1196 

Walker,   Frank  Albert   575 

Wallis,   William   982 

Walsh   and   Sons   447 

Ward,  J.    F.    760 

Ward,  J.    R.    1201 

Washburn,  Frank  L. 567 

Watchinski,  Joseph  A. 948 

Watt,    Lawrence    934 

Webber,    Raymond    1119 


History  of  McLean  County 


Weeks,  Alferd    S.    1277 

Weeks,  Vernon 1239 

Welch,  C.  W.   1284 

Welch,  Henry  A. 577 

Welch,  William   Henry   623 

Weldon,    Lawrence    501 

Wells,   Matthew   B. 1199 

Wernsmann,    Fred   778 

Wersch,  A.  W.   1257 

West,  Simeon  H. 1216 

Westhoff,    F.    W.    553 

Wheaton,  Lewis  C. 645 

Whitehouse,  Carl  E. 603 

Whitesell,    Ray   1188 

Whitmer,  Leroy  G.   418 

Whitmore,  W.  W.  506 

Whitney,  W.  H.,  Jr. 916 

Wiley,    J.    J.    ___■ 992 

Williams,  Arthur    Rowland    453 

Williams,  Chesler    C.    976 

Williams,  E.    C.    1002 


Williams,  Robert  E. 529 

Wilson,   C.  T.   727 

Wilson,  David    1223 

Wilson,  Frank   L.    1030 

Wilson,  James    666 

Wise,  Frank  C. 636 

Wissmiller,   Frank   1000 

Wochner,   Adolph    1220 

Woodard,  B.  F. 838 

Woodmancy,  George  W. 895 

Yarrington,    Wesley    1141 

Yolton,  John   L. 399 

Youle,  Frank  B. 1161 

Youle,  George  1285 

Young,  Edward   V.   465 

Young,  George  K. 734 

Young,  H.    L.    999 

Young,  Miles    K.    1278 

Young,  William   B.    958 


History  of  McLean  County 


CHAPTER  I. 


PRIMITIVE  McLEAN  COUNTY. 

McLEAN  COUNTY  A  CENTURY  AGO  AND  NOW— SOIL,  TOPOGRAPHY  AND  VEGETA- 
TION—  ANIMAL  LIFE  —  INDIANS  —  KICKAPOOS  MOST  NUMEROUS  —  CHIEF 
MACHINA— OTHER  TRIBES — INDIAN  SETTLEMENTS — REMOVAL  OF  INDIANS 
TO  THE  WEST. 


CHAPTER  II. 


EARLY  WHITE  SETTLEMENTS. 


FIRST  SETTLEMENT  IN  1822— PIONEER  FAMILIES— BLOOMING  GROVE — NATURAL 
RESOURCES^DIGGING  SALT— SETTLERS  OF  1824-1825— EARLY  CONDITIONS- 
BREAKING  THE  PRAIRIE — HAVENS  GROVE— STERLING  QUALITIES  OF  PIO- 
NEERS— FIRST  MINISTER  AND  ORGANIZED  CHURCH — WEATHER  AS  A 
GOVERNING  FACTOR — DEEP  SNOW  OF  1831 — "BIG  FREEZE"  OF  1836 — HARD- 
SHIPS  OF  PIONEERS— PASTIMES  AND  SPORTS. 


History  of  McLean  County 
CHAPTER  III. 


COUNTY  ORGANIZATION. 


MOVEMENT  FOR  ESTABLISHMENT  OF  NEW  COUNTY — NAME — TERRITORY  COM- 
PRISING McLEAN  COUNTY— FIRST  ELECTION  DISTRICT— McLEAN  COUNTY 
CREATED  DECEMBER  25,  1830— ORIGINAL  BOUNDARIES— FORM  OF  GOVERN- 
MENT—  EARLY  ROADS  —  VALUATION  —  MERCANTILE  METHODS — OFFICIAL 
ACTS— NEW  TOWNS— ORGANIZATION  OF  TOWNSHIPS. 


CHAPTER  IV. 


TOWNS  AND  TOWNSHIPS. 


ALLIN— ANCHOR — ARROWSMITH — BELLFLOWER — BLOOMINGTON — BLUE  MOUND — 
CHENEYS  GROVE— CHENOA— CROPSEY— DALE— DANVERS—  DAWSON—  DOWNS 
DRY  GROVE — EMPIRE. 


CHAPTER  V. 


TOWNSHIPS  AND  TOWNS,  CONTINUED. 


FUNK'S  GROVE — GRIDLEY— HUDSON— LA  WND  ALE— LEXINGTON— MARTIN— MONEY 
CREEK  —  MOUNT  HOPE  —  NORMAL — OLD  TOWN  —  RANDOLPH  —  TO  WANDA  — 
WEST— WHITE  OAK— YATES. 


History  of  McLean  County 
CHAPTER  VI. 


CITY  OF  BLOOMINGTON. 


COUNTY  SEAT— LOCATED  AND  NAMED  BY  ACT  OP  GENERAL  ASSEMBLY — SALE  OF 
LOTS — INCORPORATION  OP  TOWN — OFFICIALS— PARKS— FIRE  DEPARTMENT 
— WATER  WORKS — PAVEMENT— SEWERS — ELECTRIC  LIGHT-^FORMS  OF  GOV- 
ERNMENT. 


CHAPTER  VII. 


GREAT  FIRE  OF  1900. 


ORIGIN  IN  B.  S.  GREEN  BUILDING — RAPID  SPREAD— SCOPE  OF  DESTRUCTION — 
COURTHOUSE — FIRE  FIGHTERS  FROM  PEORIA  AND  SPRINGFIELD — BUILD- 
INGS BURNED— LOSS— REBUILDING. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 


MODERN  NORMAL. 


BUILT  AROUND  UNIVERSITY— EARLY  NURSERIES — HORSE  BUSINESS— ERA  OF 
IMPROVEMENT— CITY  OFFICIALS— WOMEN'S  IMPROVEMENT  LEAGUE — COM- 
MERCIAL CLUB— STORES— COUNTRY  CLUB. 


History  of  McLean  County 
CHAPTER  IX. 


BLACK  HAWK  AND  MEXICAN  WARS. 


CHIEF  BLACK  HAWK — McLEAN  COUNTY  FURNISHED  TWO  COMPANIES — BATTLE 
OF  STILLMAN'S  RUN— CLOSE  OF  WAR — BLOCK  HOUSES — HOME  GUARD*— 
MEXICAN  WAR:  McLEAN  COUNTY  COMPANY — "BAKER'S  BOYS" — ACTIVE 
SERVICE   IN   MEXICO — BATTLE    OF   CERRO   GORDO — CASUALTIES. 


CHAPTER  X. 


CIVIL  AND  SPANISH-AMERICAN  WARS. 


EVENTS  LEADING  UP  TO  CIVIL  WAR — PUBLIC  SENTIMENT  IN  McLEAN  COUNTY- 
ANSWER  TO  FIRST  CALL  OF  PRESIDENT — FIRST  COMPANY— OTHER  COM- 
PANIES AND  REGIMENTS  IN  SERVICE — RELIEF  WORK— SOLDIER'S  MONU- 
MENT—SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR. 


CHAPTER  XI. 


SCHOOLS. 


PIONEER  TEACHERS — FIRST  SCHOOLS— FREE  SCHOOL  LAW— SCHOOL  LANDS- 
PROMINENT  EDUCATORS — PAROCHIAL  SCHOOLS — OTHER  SCHOOLS — ERA  OF 
DEVELOPMENT  OF  PUBLIC  SCHOOLS  IN  THE  COUNTY. 


History  of  McLean  County 
CHAPTER  XII. 


ILLINOIS  WESLEYAN  UNIVERSITY. 


ORGANIZED  IN  1850— FIRST  PROFESSORS— PRESENT  LOCATION— EARLY  STRUGGLES 
—ADDITIONAL  BUILDINGS— PRESIDENTS— IN  THE  WORLD  WAR— RESOURCES 
—DR.   KEMP— DR.   DAVIDSON — LATEST   STATISTICS. 


CHAPTER  XIII. 


ILLINOIS    STATE    NORMAL    UNIVERSITY. 


THE  PIONEER  NORMAL  SCHOOL — QUESTION  OF  LOCATION — LAW  CREATING  NOR- 
MAL SCHOOL— SITE  CHOSEN— CASH  PLEDGES— CONSTRUCTION  OF  FIRST 
BUILDING; — DIFFICULTIES— DEDICATION — EXPANSION — PRESIDENTS — BUILD- 
ING AND  DEPARTMENTS — ATTENDANCE— SOCIETIES. 


CHAPTER  XIV. 


CHURCHES. 


FIRST  MINISTER— OTHER  PIONEER  PREACHERS — FIRST  EDIFICES— METHODIST 
EPISCOPAL — CATHOLIC — UNITED  BRETHREN — PRESBYTERIAN — OTHER  DE- 
NOMINATIONS AND  PASTORS— BAPTISTS — CONGREGATION  ALISTS—  DISCIPLES 
OF  CHRIST— GERMAN  LUTHERAN — EVANGELICAL  FRIENDS — UNITARIAN- 
CHRISTIAN  SCIENCE— EPISCOPALIAN — ILLINOIS  CHRISTIAN  MISSIONARY 
SOCIETY. 


History  of  McLean  County 
CHAPTER  XV. 


AGRICULTURE. 


A  PRE-EMINENTLY  AGRICULTURAL,  COUNTY— PIONEER  METHODS— CHEAP  LANDS 
—CORN,  A  CHIEF  PRODUCT— LIVE  STOCK— NEW  ERA  WITH  THE  COMING  OF 
RAILROADS— GEOLOGY  AND  TOPOGRAPHY— DRAINAGE— IMPROVED  IMPLE- 
MENTS—TRACTORS—LAND VALUES  —  LIVE  STOCK  AND  GRAIN  — OTHER 
PRODUCTS. 


CHAPTER  XVI. 


PUBLIC  UTILITIES. 


DEVELOPMENT  CO- EXTENSIVE  WITH  CITY  AND  COUNTY — CRUDE  METHODS  AT 
FIRST — ILLINOIS  POWER  AND  LIGHT  CORPORATION — DEVELOPMENT  OF 
STREET  RAILWAY  SYSTEM — FORMER  OPERATING  COMPANIES — FIRST 
ELECTRIC  LIGHTS— DEVELOPMENT  OF  INDUSTRY— GAS  COMPANIES— TELE- 
PHONE SYSTEMS. 


CHAPTER  XVII. 


INDUSTRIAL  DEVELOPMENT. 


MANUFACTURING— RAILROAD  SHOPS  —  TELEGRAPH  COMPANY  —  EWING  AND 
FLAGG — PLOW  FACTORY — BRICK  AND  TILE — COAL  MINE — PORK  PACKINGS — 
MEADOWS  MANUFACTURING  COMPANY— AMERICAN  FOUNDRY  AND  FURNACE 
COMPANY — PAUL  F.  BEICH  COMPANY — MaGIRL  FOUNDRY— BLOOMINGTON 
CANNING  COMPANY— WHOLESALE   GROCERS — NURSERIES. 


History  of  McLean  County 
CHAPTER  XVIII. 


RAILROADS. 


ILLINOIS  CENTRAL  OLDEST — FINANCES — BUILDING  OF  EAST  AND  WEST  LINES- 
VOTING  OF  BONDS— BUILDING  ROAD  NORTH  AND  SOUTH— C.  &  A.  SHOPS- 
GROWTH  OF  RAILROADS— VALUATION  OF  RAILROAD  PROPERTY— ELECTRIC 
RAILROADS— TELEGRAPH  COMPANIES. 


CHAPTER  XIX. 


BANKS. 


FIRST  RECORDED  LOAN  IN  COUNTY — PIONEER  BANKS^PANICS — INCREASE  IN 
NUMBER  OF  STATE  BANKS — LIST  OF  PRESENT  McLEAN  COUNTY  BANKS — 
DEPOSITS. 


CHAPTER  XX. 


McLEAN  COUNTY  BAR. 


HIGH  PROFESSIONAL  STANDARD— LAW  LIBRARY— ABRAHAM  LINCOLN  PRACTICED 
HERE — ADLAI  E.  STEVENSON— DAVID  DAVIS — EARLY  ATTORNEYS  WHO 
PRATICED  HERE— A  LIST  OF  OTHER  McLEAN  COUNTY  LAWYERS — PRESENT 
DAY  LAWYERS. 


History  of  McLean  County 
CHAPTER  XXI. 


MEDICAL  PROFESSION. 


TREATMENT  OF  PIONEER  SICK — FIRST  DOCTORS — MEDICAL  SOCIETY  ORGANIZED 
—EARLY  MEMBERS— PHYSICIANS  AND  SURGEONS  OF  FORMER  YEARS^— 
PRESENT  MEMBERS  OF  COUNTY  MEDICAL  SOCIETY— PHYSICIANS  IN  WORLD 
WAR. 


CHAPTER  XXII. 


COUNTY  DENTAL  SOCIETY. 


ORGANIZED  IN  1902  —  FIRST  MEETINGS  —  FIRST  OFFICERS  —  CONSTITUTION 
ADOPTED — LIST  OF  OFFICERS— DEATHS— TWO  STATE  CONVENTIONS  HELD 
HERE. 


CHAPTER  XXIII. 


THE  PRESS. 


FIRST  NEWSPAPER — BLOOMINGTON  OBSERVER— THE  PANTAGRAPH— DAILY  BUL- 
LETIN—OTHER NEWSPAPERS— LABOR  ORGANS — NEWSPAPERS  IN  THE 
COUNTY — OTHER  WEEKLY  AND  MONTHLY  PUBLICATIONS — SCHOOL  PERIOD- 
ICALS. 


History  of  McLean  County 
CHAPTER  XXIV. 


COUNTY  AND  OTHER  OFFICERS. 


CIRCUIT  JUDGES— CIRCUIT  CLERKS— SHERIFFS— SCHOOL,  SUPERINTENDENTS- 
STATE'S  ATTORNEYS — COUNTY  JUDGES — PROBATE  JUDGE  AND  CLERK — 
COUNTY  CLERK  —  TREASURERS  —  RECORDERS  —  SURVEYORS  —  CORONERS — 
STATE  SENATORS — STATE  REPRESENTATIVES — OTHER  STATE  AND  FED- 
ERAL OFFICERS  FROM  McLEAN   COUNTY. 


CHAPTER  XXV. 


WORLD  WAR. 


UNITED  STATES  ENTERS  WAR — SOME  OF  THE  THINGS  McLEAN  COUNTY  DID— 
THOSE  WHO  GAVE  THEIR  LIVES — DRAFT  BOARDS — RED  CROSS — RELIEF 
ASSOCIATIONS  —  LOAN  CAMPAIGNS  —  FOOD  CONSERVATION  —  WOMEN  IN 
SERVICE— COUNCIL  OF  DEFENSE — FOOD  ADMINISTRATION — FUEL  ADMINIS- 
TRATION— GENERAL  HARBARD — FOUR-MINUTE  MEN. 


CHAPTER  XXVI. 


AMERICAN  LEGION. 


ORGANIZED  HERE^NAMED  IN  HONOR  OF  LOUIS  E.  DAVIS— FIRST  OFFICERS — 
INCREASE  IN  MEMBERSHIP— STATE  HEADQUARTERS  IN  BLOOMINGTON — 
OFFICERS— WOMEN'S  AUXILIARY — POSTS  IN  McLEAN  COUNTY — WORLD  WAR 
VETERANS. 


History  of  McLean  County 

CHAPTER  XXVII. 


HOSPITALS  AND  CHARITABLE  INSTITUTIONS. 


ST.  JOSEPH'S  HOSPITAL— BROKAW  HOSPITAL — MENNONITE  SANITARIUM — JESSA- 
MINE WITHERS  HOME — VICTORY  HALL — DAY  NURSERY — HOME  FOR  COL- 
ORED CHILDREN— THE  BABYFOLD— GIRLS'  INDUSTRIAL  HOME— FAIRVIEW 
SANITORIUM— SALVATION   ARMY — BUREAU   OF   SOCIAL   SERVICE. 


CHAPTER  XXVIII. 


THE  ASSOCIATION  OF  COMMERCE. 


FIRST  ORGANIZATION — BUSINESS  MEN'S  ASSOCIATION — EARLY  OFFICERS — SECRE- 
TARY HUDSON— ACTIVITIES  OF  ASSOCIATION— VARIOUS  DEPARTMENTS — 
INFLUENCE — MEMBERSHIP   824 — COMMITTEES — DIRECTORS. 


CHAPTER  XXIX. 


FARMERS  ORGANIZATIONS. 


BETTER  FARMING  ASSOCIATION  FORMED — D.  O.  THOMPSON'S  WORK — NAME 
CHANGED  TO  FARM  BUREAU— OFFICERS— MEMBERSHHIP— POULTRY  SHOW- 
SWINE  BREEDERS'  ASSOCIATIONS — SHORTHORN  CATTLE,  JERSEY  CATTLE 
AND  OTHER  ASSOCIATIONS— FEDERAL  LOANS — PRODUCER'S  MARKET- 
FARMERS  GRAIN  DEALERS  ASSOCIATION. 


History  of  McLean  County 
CHAPTER  XXX. 


HOME  BUREAU. 


PERMANENTLY  ORGANIZED— FIRST  OFFICERS — BRANCHES — VARIETY  OF  WORK- 
MONTHLY  BULLETIN— VARIOUS  ACTIVITIES. 


CHAPTER  XXXI. 


LIBRARIES  OF  THE  COUNTY. 


FIRST  COLLECTION  OF  BOOKS— EARLY  LIBRARIES— BLOOMINGTON  AND  McLEAN 
COUNTY  LIBRARY— LADIES'  LIBRARY  ASSOCIATION — WITHERS'  LIBRARY — 
WESLEYAN  AND  ILLINOIS  STATE  NORMAL  LIBRARIES— C.  &  A.  LIBRARY- 
OTHER  LIBRARIES. 


CHAPTER  XXXII. 


SOLDIERS'  ORPHANS'  HOME. 


HAD  INCEPTION  HERE— ESTABLISHED  IN  1865 — LOCATION  CONTESTED— TEMPO- 
RARY HOME  OPENED  IN  1867 — EARLY  SUPERINTENDENTS— RALPH  SPAF- 
FORD— MANAGING  OFFICER. 


History  of  McLean  County 

CHAPTER  XXXIII. 


McLEAN  COUNTY  HISTORICAL  SOCIETY. 


ORGANIZED  IN  1892 — FIRST  PRESIDENT — OTHER  OFFICERS — FIRST  VOLUME 
PUBLISHED— SECOND  VOLUME — INCORPORATED  IN  1901— OFFICERS— IN  Mc- 
BARNES  MEMORIAL  BUILDING — HISTORICAL  COLLECTION— MEETINGS. 


CHAPTER  XXXIV. 


MISCELLANEOUS. 


McBARNES  MEMORIAL  BUILDING — COURT  HOUSES— COUNTY  JAILS— MOTOR  CAR 
AND  ERA  OF  PAVED  ROADS. 


CHAPTER  XXXV. 


MISCELLANEOUS,  CONTINUED. 


EXTINCT  TOWNS  AND  VILLAGES — POLITICAL  HISTORY — POPULATION  STATISTICS- 
INTERESTING   FACTS. 


ILLUSTRATIONS 


Adams   Branch,  Scene  on 104 

Adams,   Ira   D.   816 

Anderson,   Millard   F.   1044 

Arrowsmith,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  James  A.  1240 

Augustine,  A.   M.   449 

Augustine,  Henry     448 

Beller,    Andrew    824 

Bellflower,   High   School  at 176 

Bent,    Horatio    G.    520 

Blooming   Grove    Marker    81 

Bloomington   High   School   169 

Bracken,   William    K.    808 

Braley,   Theodore    A.    584 

Brand,  Rev.  and  Mrs.  E.  P. 472 

Britt,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  John  C. 1116 

Brokaw   Hospital   321 

Buck   Memorial    Lihrary 185 

Buck,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  T.  L. 904 

Builta,  Mr.   and   Mrs.   Frederick 1256 

Champion,    Thomas    E.    424 

Chapin,   Charles   E.   -  624 

Chenoa   School    Building   120 

Colaw,   William   and   Amos    952 

Consistory  Building 33f> 

Country    Club    104 

Court  House   6.i 

Crumbaugh,  Amanda  M. 1077 

Crumbaugh,  J  .H.   L. 1077 

Crumbaugh,    Residence    of    Mr.    and 

Mrs.  Hiram  H. 1077 

Curry,   A.   Bernice   944 

Davis,   David   793 

Davis,    Judge    David    257 

Davis,   George   P. 792 

Dawson,  O.  F.  and  Family 680 

Dooley,  George    E.   1184 

Dooley,  Rose   L.   West   1184 

Downey,    M.    R.    776 

Dunlap,   Oliver   W.    496 


Edwards,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  William  H._  672 

Fairview  Sanitorium 331 

Fell  Memorial  Gateway 192 

Felmley,  David 488 

Fisher,   Frank   C.   1168 

FitzHenry,  Louis 1063 

Fitzpatrick,    John    F.    1192 

Flesher,    E.    L.    864 

Forrest,    John    1252 

Franklin,    Noah    656 

Gerken,  William  A. 752 

Gillespie,    Frank    M.    936 

Gillespie,  Park  C. 480 

Goodwin,  John  A.   784 

Graves,  Clinton  E. 856 

Green,    Benoni    S.    744 

Hall,  C.    S.    712 

Hall,  Rachel    S.    713 

Halsey,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Alex. 1068 

Hanna,    George    S.    736 

Harris,  John     C.     872 

Hart,  Edson    B.    624 

Hart,  Harley   H.    624 

Harwood,   Thomas    F.   600 

Harwood,  Thomas    Fitch    600 

Harwood,  Willis  S. 600 

Hasbrouck,  Jacob  L. Frontispiece 

Hawks,  Joseph  K.   P. _■ 624 

Hay,   Louis    C.   632 

Heafer  and  Company,   Edgar  M. 1081 

Heafer,   Mr.  and  Mrs.   Edgar  M 1080 

Hill,  Dr.  and   Mrs.  William 592 

Hilpert,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  John  W. 1112 

Hilton,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jacob  N. 576 

Holton,  Thomas  T. 504 

Howell,    Vinton    E.   439 

Illinois  State   Normal  University 192 

Illinois  Wesleyan,   North   Building..  185 


History  of  McLean  County 


Illinois   Wesleyan,   Main   Building---  185 
Indignation  Meeting — 1865 152 

Johnson,   Dr.   L.   M.   Hospital 1232 

Jones,  R.  G. 1024 

Keiser,    Henry    '05 

Kelso,  George  B.  1088 

Kennedy,  Thomas   400 

Kerrick,   Thomas    C.   394 

Kickapoo    Indian    Fort    Marker    96 

Kilgore,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Thomas   B.__  616 

Klein,  John    768 

Koch,   Christian   F.   1056 

Krum,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  R.  S. 1224 

LamBeau,  V.  E.  J 912 

Lawrence,   Mr.   and   Mrs.   C.   B. 1264 

;,eRoy,   High  School  at   176 

Lexington  Public  School 120 

Long,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  W.  G. , 648 

McBarnes  Memorial   Building 373 

McCann,  B.   H. 1°40 

McDowell,   Samuel  K. r 528 

McFee,   Pulaski   and   Family   1128 

McNemar,  Sarah  E. ^4 

McNutt,  J.  C. 92° 

Main   Street,   Bloomington   128 

Mandel,  Oscar 1°96 

Maurice,  Thomas  W.   1272 

Meadows  Manufacturing  Company— 1136 

Meyer,  A.  W.   U44 

Miller  Park    Views    368 

Miller,  Samuel     969 

Moon,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  John 1052 

Moore,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Palmer  Q. 440 

Morrison,   Mr.  and  Mrs.  J.   E. 536 

Neal,   Mr.   and   Mrs.   Rolla   B. 552 

Normal   High   School   175 

Oberkoetter,  Frank  H76 

Oberkoetter   Frank,   Sr.   1176 

O'Donnell,   James    F.    H52 

Olson,  Ola  and  Family 1120 

O'Neil,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  D.  M. 560 

Patton-Pierson   House   72 


Peasley,  Granville  and  Family 1048 

Peasley,   Isaac    N.    960 

Peterson,  Albert  W. 1160 

Pierson,  Arthur  Van  Dyke 640 

Porter,  James   and   Rachel   544 

Public  Buildings,  Bloomington 240 

Punke,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gustave 848 

Quinn,  M.  F.  1032 

Rhodes,   O.   M.  1100 

Richmond  Family,  Joseph   E.   464 

Rigby,    Delia    H.    568 

Riley,  James  F. 608 

Risser,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Peter 1104 

Risser,  Residence  of  Peter  __ 1104 

Robinson,  James   Edwin   512 

Rocke,    John    1136 

Rogers,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wesley  H 1124 

Russum,  C.  H.  _. 1060 

Rust,  Florinda    Bishop    1008 

Rust,  Thomas   J.    1008 

Ryburn,    Edward   1072 

Sailor,  Daniel   D.   880 

Saxton,  J.  F.  and  Family 1248 

Schad,  W.   D.  1016 

Schultz,   Residence  of  L.  J. 832 

Sellers,   George    M.    1200 

Service   Flag,   Dedication   of 296 

Shade,    C.    W.    984 

Shorthose,    Frank   E.    432 

Sloan,    Edwin    P.    720 

Smith,  John  R.  416 

Smith  Library,    Lexington    357 

Soldiers  Orphans  Home  Gymnasium  361 

Soper,  Clinton  P. 728 

Stanford   Community   High   School 180 

Stevenson,  Adlai   E.   256 

Stevenson,    Letitia    Green    928 

Stevenson,  Lewis    Green   928 

St.   Joseph's    Church,    Chenoa    840 

St.  Joseph's  Hospital   319 

St.   Patrick's   Church   1193 

Stubblefield,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  D.   R 1208 

Sweeting,    Frank    E.    1064 

Swinehart,  Mr.  and  Mrs.   George 888 

Sylvester  Family,  Thomas 456 


History  of  McLean  County 


Thompson,   O.   M.   1092 

Trotter  Fountain   352 

Umstattd,   Residence   of   Charles    F._1260 
Vrooman,    Carl   800 


Wakefield,    Cyrenius 
Ward,  J.   F.   


408 
760 


West,  Martha  O'Neal 1216 

West,  Simeon  H. 1216 

Wiley,  J.  J.,  and  Residence 992 

Williams,  C.  C. 976 

Wissmiller,  Jacob 1000 

Withers    Public    Library    352 


Y.  M.   C.  A.   Buildi 


208 


I) 


History  of  McLean  County 


CHAPTER  I. 


PRIMITIVE  McLEAN  COUNTY. 

McLEAN  COUNTY  A  CENTURY  AGO  AND  NOW — SOIL,  TOPOGRAPHY  AND  VEGETA- 
TION—  ANIMAL  LIFE  —  INDIANS  —  KICKAPOOS  MOST  NUMEROUS  —  CHIEF 
MACHINA— OTHER  TRIBES — INDIAN  SETTLEMENTS — REMOVAL  OF  INDIANS 
TO   THE  WEST. 

Two  airplanes  sailed  over  central  Illinois,  100  years  apart  in  time. 
Of  course,  the  first  of  these  was  purely  mythical,  for  there  were  no  air- 
planes in  the  world  100  years  ago.  But  imagination  can  serve  as  the  pilot, 
and  when  the  plane  hovers  over  the  territory  which  is  now  McLean 
County,  we  can  picture  in  our  minds  the  scene  as  the  pilot  would  have 
seen  it.  As  far  as  the  eye  could  see,  only  stretches  of  prairie,  broken 
here  and  there  by  the  thread-like  line  of  the  streams  and  the  darker 
patches  of  woods  or  groves.  Just  at  the  edge  of  Blooming  Grove  could 
be  seen  a  curling  column  of  smoke  from  the  cabin  of  the  first  one  or  two 
white  families  who  had  settled  there.  More  distant,  another  column  of 
smoke  from  the  wigwams  of  the  Kickapoo  Indians  at  the  edge  of  what 
we  call  Old  Town  timber.  Perhaps  up  toward  the  Mackinaw  river  might 
have  been  seen  faint  outlines  of  a  camp  of  Delawares,  last  remnants  of 
their  tribe,  and  to  the  northwest  the  last  camp  of  the  Pottawattamies. 
No  road  or  highway  crossed  the  vast  stretches  of  the  prairie,  but  sloughs 
or  ponds  at  intervals  marked  the  undrained  depressions  in  the  landscape. 

65 

(3) 


66  History  of  McLean  County 

Wild  animals  roamed  at  large,  but  over  the  scene  brooded  a  strange 
silence,  as  of  expectation  of  the  coming  of  the  white  man  to  take  charge 
of  this  domain. 

The  second  airplane,  pausing  in  mid-air  in  the  summer  of  1923,  saw 
nestling  beneath  him,  beautiful  and  busy  Bloomington,  county  seat  of  a 
populous  and  well-cultivated  county.  Just  north  lay  embowered  Normal, 
and  as  the  eye  of  the  pilot  explored  the  more  distant  scene,  he  saw  clus- 
ters of  houses  marking  the  site  of  the  many  villages  and  towns — Hudson 
to  the  north,  Danvers  and  Carlock  west,  Shirley  and  McLean  to  the 
southwest,  Heyworth  to  the  south,  Downs  and  Leroy  southeast,  Say- 
brook  and  Arrowsmith  to  the  east,  Cooksville  and  Colfax  to  the  north- 
east, and  Chenoa,  Lexington  and  Towanda  to  the  further  north.  Cross- 
ing the  scene  at  many  places  were  the  well-defined  roads,  many  of  them 
paved,  along  which  rolled  hundreds  of  motor  cars.  Twin  lines  of  rails 
marked  the  course  of  the  steam  and  electric  railroads,  along  which  trains 
passed  at  frequent  intervals.  Between  the  railroads,  highways  and  towns 
lay  hundreds  of  farms,  with  their  golden  grain  harvests  just  ready  for 
the  reapers,  with  their  flocks  and  herds  browsing  in  the  pasture  lands. 
Large  bar»ns  and  comfortable  houses  denoted  the  habitations  of  a  well- 
fed  rural  population,  and  school  houses  at  intervals  indicated  the  means 
of  their  enlightenment.  The  whole  picture  was  of  a  contented  and  pros- 
perous empire  where  once  the  wilderness  existed. 

The  part  of  Illinois  now  comprised  in  McLean  County  was  and  is 
one  of  the  most  fertile  sections.  It  is  composed  of  rich  black  alluvial  soil, 
on  which  for  thousands  of  years  before  it  was  settled  by  the  white  man 
had  grown  luxuriant  crops  of  prairie  grass.  The  wide  spaces  of  open 
prairie  were  broken  here  and  there  by  more  rolling  sections  of  land  bor- 
dering along  the  streams,  and  at  intervals  there  were  groves  or  small 
forests  of  native  trees,  oaks,  elms,  hickory  and  other  varieties.  The 
prairie  grass  would  grow  from  six  to  eight  feet  in  height  in  the  more 
watered  sections.  Some  of  the  lands,  on  account  of  the  lack  of  drainage, 
would  in  the  wet  seasons  assume  almost  the  character  of  swamps.  The 
rank  growth  of  grasses  gave  rise  to  great  danger  of  prairie  fires  in  the 
fall  of  the  year  when  the  season  was  dry.  If  started  by  some  accidental 
means,  even  by  the  lightning,  there  was  no  way  of  stopping  their  spread 
until  the  white  settlers  grew  numerous  enough  to  offer  some  serious 
resistance.    Great  stretches  of  the  prairie  lands  were  often  left  black  and 


History  of  McLean  County  67 

barren  after  the  sweep  of  these  fires.  The  fires  would  also  invade  the 
timber  and  cause  the  destruction  of  thousands  of  trees. 

The  land  was  not  without  its  inhabitants  even  before  the  white  set- 
tlers came.  There  were  thousands  of  wild  creatures  who  lived  on  the 
prairies,  in  the  groves  or  along  the  streams.  These  were  deer,  wolves, 
rabbits,  raccoons  and  probably  even  bear  in  the  more  distant  times. 
Numerous  kinds  and  numbers  of  wild  birds  furnished  a  sort  of  compan- 
ionship for  the  white  settlers  when  they  first  came.  But  they  also  fur- 
nished a  more  practical  assistance  in  the  form  of  game  and  the  wild  meat 
which  the  settler  secured  with  his  guns  and  traps  was  his  chief  supply 
of  that  kind. 

There  were  human  beings  here  also  long  before  the  white  settlers 
arrived.  These  were  the  Indians  who  roamed  over  these  prairies  and 
haunted  the  woods.  There  are  today  traces  of  Indian  villages  in  some 
parts  of  the  county,  notably  in  the  vicinity  of  Arrowsmith  and  in  West 
township.  The  tribe  of  the  Kickapoos  were  the  most  numerous  in  this 
immediate  vicinity.  They  formed  the  first  neighbors  of  the  white 
settlers,  and  from  the  time  when  the  first  families  of  whites  located  in 
the  county,  until  the  Indian  tribes  finally  disappeared  from  the  scene, 
there  was  never  any  scene  of  bloodshed  resulting  from  collisions  of  the 
two  kinds  of  races.  Machina,  known  as  Old  Machina,  was  the  name  given 
by  the  white  men  to  the  great  chief  of  the  Kickapoos  who  inhabited  this 
region  at  first.  He  was  pictured  as  a  real  chief  in  stature  and  bearing. 
He  never  displayed  any  great  hostility  toward  the  whites  in  the  form  of 
violence,  but  soon  after  the  first  families  came  to  Blooming  Grove  he 
appeared  at  the  settlement  one  day  and  gave  them  warning  in  his  sym- 
bolic language  that  they  must  leave  the  country  soon.  This  he  did  by 
throwing  leaves  into  the  air  and  letting  them  fall,  indicating  that  the 
whites  must  not  remain  after  the  leaves  on  the  trees  should  fall  in  the 
autumn.  The  warning  was  not  heeded,  and  Old  Machina  was  obliged  to 
accept  his  fate.  After  the  final  dispersal  of  the  Kickapoos  from  central 
Illinois,  some  people  of  the  tribes  settles  in  the  west,  and  it  is  said  that  a 
remnant  of  the  tribe  remains  there  to  this  day. 

In  addition  to  the  Kickapoos  which  inhabited  this  part  of  the  country, 
there  were  detachments  of  tribes  of  the  Delawares  and  the  Pottawato- 
mies.  The  Kickapoos,  who  were  living  in  what  is  now  McLean  County 
when  the  white  settlers  came,  removed  here  from  the  vicinity  of  Danville 


68  History  of  McLean  County 

after  a  treaty  in  1819  gave  that  territory  to  whites.  The  Indians  estab- 
lished a  village  on  the  Mackinaw  River  17  miles  northeast  of  the  present 
site  of  Bloomington. 

Four  localities  in  McLean  County  are  notably  connected  with  Indian 
history.  One  is  in  Randolph  Township;  one  in  Arrowsmith,  known  as 
the  Indian  battle  ground;  a  third  in  West,  known  as  the  Kickapoo  fort; 
and  the  fourth  in  Lexington  township,  where  was  a  small  Indian  town 
as  late  as  1829.  In  this  latter  village,  according  to  tradition,  were  Indians 
from  the  three  tribes  of  the  Kickapoos,  the  Delawares  and  the  Potta- 
watomies.  A  Kickapoo  chief,  known  as  Ka-an-a-kuck,  was  famous  for 
his  religious  exhortation,  having  become  a  Christian  under  influences  of 
some  religious  sect  in  the  East. 

About  1828,  the  Kickapoos  who  had  been  living  in  McLean  County, 
removed  their  headquarters  to  a  point  within  the  present  boundaries 
of  Livingston  County,  where  they  erected  a  council  house  and  village  on 
the  east  side  of  Indian  Grove.  In  1830  they  removed  again,  to  Oliver's 
Grove,  known  as  Kickapoo  Grove,  where  a  census  showed  630  souls,  men, 
women  and  children.  In  1832,  the  government  moved  the  remnants  of 
the  tribes  to  a  place  west  of  St.  Louis.  The  remnants  of  the  tribe  are! 
still  in  Kansas,  where  they  were  visited  a  few  years  ago  by  Milo  Custer, 
a  local  historian,  who  collected  valuable  information  concerning  their 
present  ways  of  life. 


CHAPTER  II. 


EARLY  WHITE  SETTLEMENTS. 


FIRST  SETTLEMENT  IN  1822 — PIONEER  FAMILIES — BLOOMING  GROVE — NATURAL 
RESOURCES— DIGGING  SALT — SETTLERS  OF  1824-1825 — EARLY  CONDITIONS- 
BREAKING  THE  PRAIRIE — HAVENS  GROVE — STERLING  QUALITIES  OF  PIO- 
NEERS— FIRST  MINISTER  AND  ORGANIZED  CHURCH— WEATHER  AS  A 
GOVERNING  FACTOR — DEEP  SNOW  OF  1831 — "BIG  FREEZE"  OF  1836 — HARD- 
SHIPS OF  PIONEERS*— PASTIMES  AND   SPORTS. 

It  was  four  years  after  the  state  of  Illinois  had  been  admitted  to  the 
Union,  that  the  first  white  families  came  to  make  their  homes  in  that  part 
of  the  state  now  known  as  McLean  County.  The  state  had  only  45,000 
people  within  its  confines  when  it  sought  admission  to  the  Union  in  1818. 
At  that  time  the  settlemens  were  all  in  the  southern  part  of  the  state. 
Vandalia  had  been  made  the  state  capital  and  also  the  county  sea  of  Fay- 
ette County,  which  then  included  a  large  territory  stretching  far  up  into 
the  central  portion  of  the  state. 

John  Hendrix  and  John  M.  Dawson  with  their  families  came  west 
from  Ohio  in  the  fall  of  1821  and  settled  in  Sangamon  County,  which 
included  the  present  area  of  McLean  County.  The  following  April,  1822, 
they  moved  northward,  and  reaching  a  beautiful  grove  of  timber  decided 
to  build  themselves  cabins.  This  was  the  beginning  of  the  settlement  of 
Blooming  Grove,  about  four  miles  southeast  of  the  present  site  of  the  city 
of  Bloomington. 

One  can  imagine  the  hard  conditions  under  which  these  first  settlers 
lived.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hendrix  were  the  first  white  couple  to  build  a  home 
in  the  Grove.    Mr.  Dawson  came  with  them,  but  left  his  family  in  Sanga- 

69 


70  History  of  McLean  County 

mon  County.  There  was  a  man  named  Segar  also  in  the  party.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Hendrix  became  parents  of  eight  children.  They  lived  on  the  farm 
where  they  first  settled  until  their  deaths.  The  Hendrix  place  afterward 
became  the  property  of  0.  H.  P.  Orendorff.  When  Mr.  Dawson  finally 
brought  his  family  to  Blooming  Grove,  he  settled  on  a  farm  afterward 
owned  by  David  Cox.  John  Hendrix  was  a  native  of  Virginia,  and  John 
W.  Dawson  was  a  native  of  Kentucky.  They  met  in  Ohio  prior  to  their 
migration  to  Illinois  in  1821. 

The  little  colony  at  Blooming  Grove  formed  the  whole  world  in  this 
vicinity,  so  far  as  white  men  were  concerned.  There  were  no  other  houses 
north  of  this  settlement  until  Chicago  were  reached.  A  few  men  engaged 
in  digging  salt  at  where  Danville  now  stands,  and  a  few  miners  near 
Galena  composed  all  the  northern  Illinois  settlements. 

Reports  from  this  part  of  the  country  having  drifted  back  to  the 
older  settlements,  other  pioneers  soon  began  to  arrive.  Gardner  Randolph 
and  family  came  in  December,  1822.  In  the  spring  of  1823,  John  Benson, 
a  soldier  of  the  war  of  1812,  came  with  his  family  and  lived  in  a  linn  bark 
hut  at  the  Grove.  In  the  same  year,  the  Stringfield  family,  consisting  of 
the  widow  and  her  sons,  Severe  and  Alfred,  settled  at  what  is  now  known 
as  Randolph  Grove. 

Isaac  Funk  and  Absalom  Funk  came  to  this  county  in  1824  and  set- 
tled at  the  timber  which  became  known  as  Funk's  Grove.  William  and 
Thomas  Orendorff  came  to  Blooming  Grove  the  year  previous.  Then 
there  was  an  old  Quaker,  Ephraim  Stout  and  his  son  Ephraim,  Jr.,  settled 
at  what  became  known  as  Stout's  Grove.  Robert  Stubblefield  and  his 
family  and  Thomas  0.  Rutledge  were  among  the  other  arrivals  at  about 
this  time. 

The  year  1825  saw  many  accessions  to  the  McLean  County  settle- 
ments. Rev.  Peyton  Mitchell  came  to  Stout's  Grove  in  March,  and  in  the 
fall  of  the  year  Jonathan  Cheney  made  a  settlement  at  the  Grove  now 
called  Cheney's  Grove.  William  Evans,  Rev.  Ebenezer  Rhodes  and  Rev. 
James  Stringfield  were  others  who  arrived  at  the  Blooming  Grove  settle- 
ment. 

These  early  settlers  had  to  live  the  simple  life.  They  had  to  go  as 
far  as  Attica,  Ind.,  to  get  their  grain  milled.  They  lived  largely  on  game 
and  milk  from  their  few  cows,  with  some  little  flour  which  they  ground 
from  corn.    Rev.  Ebenezer  Rhodes  had  erected  a  mill  in  the  year  1825. 

Breaking  the  tough  prairie  sod  with  the  crude  plows  of  that  day  was 


History  of  McLean  County  71 

no  child's  play.  It  required  five  or  six  yoke  of  oxen  to  draw  the  plow. 
The  settlers  raised  their  own  wool  and  flax  and  wove  their  own  cloth. 
The  wolves  were  the  chief  enemy  of  the  sheep.  Large  bounties  for  wolf 
scalps  were  offered  by  the  settlers,  and  at  last  the  legislature  also  offered 
rewards  for  killing  these  beasts.  If  the  settlers  succeeded  in  raising  a 
number  of  cattle,  they  had  to  drive  them  to  market  at  Pekin,  Peoria  or 
Chicago.  From  the  very  first,  the  Funk  family  were  the  largest  cattle 
raisers. 

The  name  for  the  first  settlement  came  about  in  a  natural  way. 
There  were  many  flowers  blossoming  in  the  Grove,  and  Mrs.  William  Oren- 
dorff  suggested  that  it  be  called  Blooming  Grove.  Thomas  Orendorff  and 
John  Rhodes  in  letters  written  about  this  time  first  gave  the  name  to  the 
settlement.  One  story  is'  to  the  effect  that  previously  it  had  been  called 
Keg  Grove,  because  the  Indians  had  found  a  keg  of  whiskey  there. 

Between  the  years  1823  and  1830  there  were  many  other  settlements 
made  in  various  parts  of  what  is  now  McLean  County.  In  August,  1826, 
the  Trimmer  family  arrived  and  located  at  Smith's  grove.  Jacob  Spawr, 
who  afterward  became  one  of  the  oldest  men  in  the  county,  at  first  lived 
with  the  Trimmers. 

During  the  early  summer  of  1827,  Stephen  Webb,  William  McCord, 
George  and  Jacob  Hinshaw  settled  either  at  Blooming  Grove  or  Dry 
Grove.  Matthew  Robb  and  Robert  McClure  came  to  the  county  at  the 
same  time,  settling  at  Stout's  Grove.  In  1828  the  Francis  Barnard  and 
the  Henline  families  settled  on  the  north  of  the  Mackinaw  river  on  Hen- 
line  creek.    The  Conger  family  settled  near  Stout's  Grove  the  same  year. 

The  year  1830  saw  important  accessions  to  the  county  settlements. 
Jesse  Havens  settled  at  a  grove  near  where  Hudson  now  stands  and  which 
became  known  as  Havens  Grove.  Benjamin  Wheeler  also  settled  there. 
Most  of  the  early  settlers  chose  the  timber  tracts  for  settlement,  owing 
to  their  natural  protection  from  storm,  wild  animals  and  Indians.  At 
that  time  nobody  thought  the  prairie  would  ever  be  settled  up  at  all. 

From  the  earliest  days,  the  population  of  McLean  County  has  been 
known  for  its  strong  and  substantial  character,  its  religious  cast,  if  you 
please.  This  may  be  due  in  large  part  to  the  sterling  qualities  of  the  first 
settlers.  John  Hendrix  was  a  deeply  religious  man,  and  the  first  church 
services  held  in  this  county  were  held  at  his  home,  conducted  by  Rev. 
James  Stringfield.  Rev.  Ebenezer  Rhodes,  the  first  minister  who  settled 
at  Blooming  Grove,  in  1824,  soon  organized  a  congregation  or  eight  per- 


72  History  of  McLean  County 

sons  who  held  regular  meetings  and  formed  the  first  organized  church  in 
this  county. 

In  the  earlier  settlement  of  this  state  there  was  a  class  of  immigrants 
who  formed  a  floating  population.  They  never  stayed  long  at  any  one 
place.  They  drifted  about  seeking  the  easiest  places  to  eke  out  a  preca- 
rious livelihood.  This  class  of  settlers  did  not  find  much  welcome  in  the 
Blooming  Grove  neighborhood.  Messrs.  Hendrix,  Dawson  and  the  others 
wanted  men  and  women  of  substantial  character  to  come  and  live  here, 
and  these  always  found  genuine  welcome  and  what  help  could  be  afforded 
them  in  getting  established.  By  the  time  of  the  organization  of  the 
county  government,  there  were  several  hundreds  of  families,  nearly  all 
of  this  solid  and  substantial  character. 

So  near  to  nature  did  the  early  settlers  live;that  the  weather  was  one 
of  the  governing  factors  of  their  lives.  Therefore  any  great  natural  phe- 
nomenon was  recorded  in  their  memories.  One  of  these  great  red  letter 
events  was  the  deep  snow  of  the  winter  of  1830-31.  The  weather  during 
the  fall  had  been  dry  and  so  continued  until  late  in  the  winter,  with  mild 
temperature.  But  in  the  latter  part  of  December  there  came  a  snow  the 
.like  of  which  none  of  the  settlers  had  ever  known.  It  snowed  from  four 
to  six  feet  deep  all  over  the  landscape.  The  settlers  were  literally  penned 
in  their  cabins,  and  could  do  little  but  grind  their  corn  to  eat  and  keep 
their  wood  fire  burning  to  keep  warm.  A  great  deal  of  stock  was  frozen 
to  death.  Deer  grew  tame,  and  wolves  came  to  the  settlement  for  pro- 
tection and  to  scout  for  food.  Stories  of  the  "deep  snow"  formed  a  stock 
in  trade  for  reminiscences  by  the  old  settlers  until  all  the  generation  who 
had  remembered  it  had  passed  away.  In  the  spring  of  1831,  when  the 
snow  melted,  the  whole  country  was  covered  with  sloughs  and  ponds. 

Another  of  the  natural  phenomena  which  created  a  lasting  impres- 
sion on  the  early  settlers  was  the  big  freeze  of  December,  1836.  The 
weather  had  been  mild,  with  rains  following  the  snows,  changing  to  slush. 
One  afternoon  the  temperature  dropped  60  degrees  in  a  few  hours,  fall- 
ing from  40  above  to  20  below  zero.  The  country  assumed  the  aspect 
of  the  arctic  regions.  Stock  and  men  alike  who  were  caught  out  in  the 
storm  were  frozen  to  death  if  they  were  unable  to  reach  shelter.  Chick- 
ens were  frozen  fast  in  their  tracks,  and  great  suffering  resulted  to  man 
and  beast. 

The  families  who  first  settled  this  county  came  here  with  little  or 
no  money.    In  spite  of  this  fact,  with  their  own  hands  they  wrung  from 


OF  THE 


History  of  McLean  County  73 

the  soil  and  their  surroundings  enough  of  the  actual  necessities  to  keep 
them  in  fair  comfort,  although  they  lacked  all  of  what  we  consider  today 
the  luxuries  of  life.  They  provided  food  and  shelter,  clothing  and  some 
means  of  transport.  They  traveled  long  distances  on  horseback  or  with 
a  crude  wagon  to  get  their  wheat  or  corn  milled  and  to  barter  for  or  buy 
the  other  necessities  of  their  lives.  Owing  to  the  constant  danger  of 
prairie  fires,  they  never  left  their  homes  without  the  fear  that  when  they 
returned  they  would  find  their  fields,  houses  and  barns  a  mere  blackened 
waste.  And  yet  they  lived  on  and  built  up  here  this  great  community 
of  civilized  and  educated  people  of  McLean  County  today. 

And  yet  the  people  of  the  early  settlements,  especially  the  young 
people,  had  their  amusemeaits  of  the  kind  that  their  circumstances  af- 
forded. There  were  no  theaters,  clubs,  daily  papers,  magazines,  or  li- 
braries. The  people  therefore  sought  most  of  their  pastimes  in  the  great 
outdoors.  Horse  racing  was  the  favorite  sport  for  the  men,  since  nearly 
every  family  had  horses,  and  it  was  an  event  when  the  young  men  met 
to  test  the  speed  of  their  favorite  animals  against  each  other.  Foot-racing 
by  the  men  themselves,  wit  hwrestling,  boxing  and  other  athletic  pas- 
times furnished  diversions  from  the  hard  everyday  life  of  the  pioneer. 
There  was  no  baseball  in  those  days,  no  schools  with  their  football  and 
basketball  teams;  no  coaches  nor  uniformed  teams  in  various  lines  of 
athletics  as  there  are  today.  Life  in  sport  as  well  as  in  everything  else 
was  of  a  simpler  sort  in  the  early  days  of  the  county. 

For  the  women,  dancing  and  other  indoor  games  were  the  pastimes 
of  most  popularity.  Whole  neighborhoods  would  come  for  miles  to  at- 
tend a  dance,  and  some  of  the  young  people  of  that  day  developed  re- 
markable skill  and  grace  in  waltzing,  quadrille,  Virginia  reel  and  other 
forms  of  the  dance.  Spelling  bees  and  singing  schools  were  also  of  com- 
mon occurrence. 

Hunting  was  indulged  in  both  for  the  sport  of  it,  the  chase  and  to 
furnish  meats  for  the  families.  Deer,  wild  turkey,  geese  and  ducks, 
quail,  and  prairie  chickens  were  common  among  the  food  animals;  while 
wolves,  foxes,  wildcats  and  other  "varmints"  were  killed  to  rid  the  settle- 
ments of  their  destructiveness.  Many  times  a  large  wolf  hunt  was  or- 
ganized, and  the  really  dangerous  beasts  were  rounded  up  a«id  killed  in 
numbers.  The  advent  of  the  railroads  took  away  the  truly  pioneer  char- 
acter of  the  country;  made  communication  more  rapid  and  convenient, 
and  began  the  modern  era  of  the  county. 


CHAPTER  III. 


COUNTY  ORGANIZATION. 


MOVEMENT  FOR  ESTABLISHMENT  OP  NEW  COUNTY — NAME — TERRITORY  COM- 
PRISING McLEAN  COUNTY — FIRST  ELECTION  DISTRICT — McLEAN  COUNTY 
CREATED  DECEMBER  25,  1830 — ORIGINAL  BOUNDARIES^FORM  OP  GOVERN- 
MENT—  EARLY  ROADS  —  VALUATION. —  MERCANTILE  METHODS  —  OFFICIAL 
ACTS— NEW  TOWNS— ORGANIZATION   OF  -TOWNSHIPS. 

Tazewell  County  had  been  formed  from  part  of  the  vast  area  orig- 
inally comprised  in  Sangamon  County.  By  the  year  1830,  there  were 
many  small  settlements  in  this  immediate  vicinity,  and  the  people  began 
to  talk  about  forming  another  county  of  their  own.  Mackinawtown  was 
the  county  seat  of  Tazewell,  and  the  people  there  were  opposed  to  cutting 
off  any  of  the  territory  from  Tazewell.  But  one  of  the  young  men  who 
had  come  here  in  1829,  James  Allin  by  name,  became  the  leader  in  the 
movement  for  forming  a  new  county.  He  with  others  circulated  the 
petitions  addressed  to  the  legislature  asking  permission  for  organizing 
the  new  county.  When  finally  signed  by  numbers  of  settlers,  the  petitions 
were  taken  to  Vandalia,  the  state  capital,  by  Thomas  Orendorff,  James 
Allin  and  James  Latta.  The  speaker  of  the  house  at  that  time  was  Wil- 
liam Lee  E.  Ewing,  who  took  an  interest  in  the  proposition.  After  sev- 
eral days  of  waiting,  Mr.  Ewing  called  Messrs.  Allin,  Orendorff  and  Latta 
into  his  room  and  asked  them  what  name  they  would  have  for  their 
county. 

Hendricks  was  suggested  in  honor  of  Mr.  Hendricks  of  Indiana.  But 
it  was  decided  not  to  name  the  county  after  any  living  man.  Finally  the 
name  of  McLean  was  suggested,  in  honor  of  John  McLean  of  Shawnee- 
town,  who  had  been  speaker  of  the  house,  member  of  Congress  and  United 

74 


History  of  McLean  County  75 

States  senator.  The  bill  then  organizing  the  new  county  with  the  name 
of  McLean  was  passed  by  the  house  of  the  legislature  in  the  morning  of 
one  day,  and  by  the  senate  in  the  afternoon. 

It  is  interesting  to  trace  the  origin  of  the  political  unit  of  McLean 
County  from  its  very  beginning.  By  the  year  1824  there  were  40  or  50 
families  living  in  the  vicinity  of  Blooming  Grove,  but  they  were  over 
100  miles  from  the  county  seat  at  Vandalia,  and  there  was  no  voting 
place  near.  Consequently,  no  one  of  the  settlers  cast  his  vote  at  the  elec- 
tion of  1824  when  the  slavery  question  was  at  issue  in  this  state.  As 
the  election  of  1826  drew  near,  the  people  of  this  region  agitated  for  a 
voting  precinct  in  their  neighborhood.  It  was  accordingly  created  and 
named'  Orendorff  precinct.  This  was  the  germ  of  the  future  county  of 
McLean.  At  the  session  of  county  commissioners  of  Fayette  County  in 
March,  1826,  it  was  decided  that  all  that  part  of  the  county  north  of 
township  17  shall  compose  an  election  district,  and  that  William  Oren- 
dorff, John  Benson  and  James  Latta  were  named  judges  of  election  there. 
William  See  and  W.  H.  Hodge  were  clerks  of  the  election.  The  area  of 
the  precinct  was  enormous,  taking  in  all  of  the  present  McLean  County, 
part  of  DeWitt  and  Piatt,  also  territory  north  to  the  Wisconsin  line,  the 
latter  mostly  unsettled.  The  Blooming  Grove  settlement  was  the  most 
important  between  Vandalia  and  the  Wisconsin  line. 

Settlements  grew  in  number  and  population  from  1826-27  and  espe- 
cially after  the  Indians  had  bee  nremoved  from  the  county  in  1829  and 
the  prairie  lands  began  to  be  settled.  In  the  year  1827  Tazewell  County 
was  organized  with  Mackinawtown  as  its  county  seat.  The  western  row 
of  townships,  Danvers,  Allin,  and  Mt.  Hope,  belonged  to  Sangamon  until 
Tazewell  County  was  formed.  In  June,  1827,  the  Tazewell  board  of  super- 
visors created  an  election  precinct  called  Blooming  Grove  precinct  and 
embracing  territory  east  of  the  third  principal  meridian  and  north  of 
township  22,  which  would  include  all  of  the  present  county  east  of  the 
Danvers-Mt.  Hope  strip.  The  first  election  here  was  held  at  the  house 
of  John  Benson,  county  treasurer.  Population  continuing  to  grow  in  this 
region,  the  number  of  families  residing  in  the  territory  of  the  present 
county  had  grown  to  350  by  the  year  1830.  There  were  350  votes  cast 
at  the  election  that  fall  in  the  precinct.  Many  of  the  leading  men  of  the 
time  then  began  to  talk  of  forming  a  new  county,  for  they  saw  that  the 
immense  territory  of  Tazewell  County  could  not  always  be  held  together 


76  History  of  McLean  County 

as  one  political  unit.  It  was  at  this  time  that  James  Allin  came  here,  he 
being  a  young  man  of  much  push  and  having  been  county  commissioner 
of  Fayette  County  in  the  years  1823-25.  Allin  therefore  at  once  agitated 
the  forming  of  a  new  county  and  establishing  a  county  seat  at  or  nsar 
Blooming  Grove.  A  petition  was  therefore  circulated  and  largely  signed, 
and  sent  to  Vandalia,  the  state  capital,  in  December,  1830.  Thomas  Oren- 
dorff  and  James  Latta  took  the  petition  to  Vandalia,  and  Allin  furnished 
them  letters  to  prominent  men  at  the  capital,  Mr.  Allin  himself  being 
unable  to  go.  The  law  creating  McLean  County  was  passed  by  the  legis- 
lature on  December  25,  1830,  and  commissioners  were  appointed  to  go  to 
the  neighborhood  and  select  the  site  for  the  county  seat,  which  should 
be  known  as  Bloomington.  This  month  was  the  month  of  the  historical 
"deep  snow,"  and  on  that  account  the  site  committee  did  not  make  the 
trip  until  the  following  spring.  When  it  did  finally  make  the  journey  of 
inspection,  the  committee  selected  a  part  of  the  tract  of  land  which  James 
Allin  had  entered  from  the  government,  having  first  obtained  the  rights 
therein  of  William  Evans,  a  former  claimant.  This  was  at  the  north 
side  of  Blooming  Grove,  where  James  Allin  had  already  established  a 
store.  It  is  said  that  the  settlers  in  the  grove  itself  did  not  care  to  have 
the  new  village  located  in  their  vicinity.  John  McLean,  for  whom  the 
county  was  named,  had  died  just  the  previous  year,  hence  his  name  was 
then  prominently  honored  by  Illinois  people. 

The  original  boundaries  of  the  county  as  formed  when  the  bill  was 
passed  were  these:  Bounded  on  the  north  by  the  Illinois  river;  on  the 
east  by  range  six  east  of  the  third  principal  meridian;  on  the  south  by 
the  township  line  of  township  21  north ;  on  the  west  by  range  One  west  of 
the  third  principal  meridian. 

In  1898,  the  McLean  County  Historical  Society  erected  in  the  east 
corridor  of  the  courthouse  in  Bloomington,  a  very  handsome  memorial 
tablet  in  honor  of  John  McLean,  for  whom  the  county  was  named.  This 
tablet  contains  the  following  inscription:  "1791-1830.  In  Memory  of 
John  McLean,  of  Shawneetown,  Illinois,  for  Whom  This  County  was 
Named.  First  representative  in  Congress,  1818;  U.  S.  Senator  1824-25 
and  1829-30.  Erected  by  the  board  of  supervisors  and  McLean  County 
Historical  Society,  Dec.  6,  1898." 

The  business  of  McLean  County  was  first  transacted  by  a  board 
of  three  commissioners.    Their  first  meeting  was  held  May  16,  1831.    The 


History  of  McLean  County  77 

members  were  Jonathan  Cheney,  Timothy  B.  Hoblit  and  Jesse  Havens. 
Isaac  Baker  was  appointed  first  clerk  of  the  commissioners'  court,  and 
held  the  office  for  many  years.  The  first  tax  levy  was  one-half  of  one  per 
cent.  This  was  a  small  levy,  but  the  settlers  were  poor,  and  the  tax  was 
no  light  matter  for  payment.  Thomas  Orendorff  was  first  treasurer  of 
the  county,  but  the  money  that  he  handled  would  be  considered  a  laugh- 
able quantity  at  the  present  time.  Of  the  first  commissioners,  Cheney 
came  from  Cheney's  Grove,  Hoblit  represented  the  Waynesville  neighbor- 
hood, now  in  DeWitt  County,  and  Havens  came  from  Havens'  Grove,  in 
the  northern  part  of  the  county. 

Five  voting  precincts  were  formed  from  the  territory  of  the  county: 
Kickapoo  precinct,  in  the  southwestern  part,  comprising  some  of  the  terri- 
tory of  the  present  Logan  and  DeWitt  Counties ;  Salt  Creek  precinct,  the 
eastern  portion  of  the  county ;  Bloomington  precinct,  taking  in  the  county 
seat  and  territory  to  the  west  and  north ;  Mackinaw  precinct,  covering  an 
immense  tract  which  was  sparsely  settled,  including  Lexington,  Money 
Creek  and  north  of  the  Mackniaw  river  to  the  north  county  line;  lastly 
Panther  Creek  precinct,  mostly  in  the  present  area  of  Woodford  county 
and  extending  down  to  Stout's  Grove  and  Danvers.  There  were  2,016 
sections  of  land  in  the  county,  which  comprised  at  that  time  approxi- 
mately 1,290,000  acres.  After  various  tracts  had  been  cut  off  the  county 
from  time  to  time,  its  area  was  narrowed  down  to  1,166  square  miles,  or 
1,068  sections,  about  one-half  its  original  area. 

For  the  first  18  years  of  the  history  of  the  county,  from  1831  to 
1849,  the  commissioners'  form  of  government  prevailed.  In  addition  to 
the  first  three  commissioners,  the  names  of  men  who  served  in  this  ca- 
pacity while  the  form  of  government  prevailed  included  Andrew  Mc- 
Millan, Seth  Baker,  Joseph  Bartholomew,  William  C.  Johnson,  James  R. 
Dawson,  William  Orendorff,  Nathan  Low,  John  B.  Jones,  William  Cona- 
way,  Jesse  Funk,  William  Bishop,  Henry  Van  Sickle,  Ezekiel  Arrowsmith, 
Israel  W.  Hall,  and  James  Van  Dolah.  At  the  adoption  of  the  constitu- 
tion of  1848,  there  were  two  forms  of  county  government  provided  in 
Illinois.  One  was  the  County  Justices'  Court,  consisting  of  three  judges, 
one  probate  and  two  associates;  or  the  people  of  any  county  could  by 
proper  adoption  on  popular  vote  take  on  the  system  of  township  organiza- 
tion. The  southern  section  of  the  state  generally  used  the  county  com- 
missioners' form  of  government,  having  taken  it  from  the  southern  states, 


78  '  History  of  McLean  County 

whence  most  of  the  settlers  came.  In  northern  and  central  Illinois  the 
township  form  was  more  popular. 

Some  items  from  year  to  year  taken  from  the  official  records  of  the 
commissioners'  court  of  McLean  County  serve  to  designate  the  progress 
which  the  county  was  making  in  population  and  other  material  interests. 
Much  of  the  business  of  the  commissioners'  court  during  the  earliest 
years  was  connected  with  the  laying  out  of  roads,  as  this  was  one  of  the 
first  requisites  of  the  new  settlements.  As  early  as  July  27,  1831,  on 
petition  of  Jacob  Spawr  and  others  a  road  was  laid  out  from  Rook's  place 
on  the  Vermilion  River  past  Money  Creek,  Sugar  Creek  at  a  point  north 
of  Bloomington,  through  Randolph  Grove  and  Long  Point  to  the  south 
line  of  the  county.  In  the  January  term,  1832,  a  road  was  laid  out  from 
Bloomington  to  Funk's  Grove.  In  the  March  term  a  road  from  Bloom- 
ington southeasterly  to  the  county  line. 

To  give  an  idea  of  the  small  total  of  property  values  in  the  county 
in  the  early  years  it  may  be  stated  that  the  total  revenues  of  the  county 
for  the  year  1829  were  $1,061.89,  and  the  expenses  $898.53.  At  the  March 
term  of  1832  the  county  levied  a  tax  of  one-half  per  cent  on  the  following 
property:  All  horses,  mules,  meat  cattle  three  years  old,  town  lots,  sheep 
one  year  old,  pleasure  carriages,  wagons,  household  property,  watches 
and  all  distilleries.  The  county  taxes  collected  for  1832  were  $2,313, 
and  the  assessor  was  paid  the  sum  of  $40.  An  interesting  item  of  busi- 
ness for  the  December  term,  1832,  was  the  appearance  of  John  Scott, 
Ebenezer  Barnes,  and  William  McGhee  and  making  application  for  the 
privilege  of  proving  themselves  to  have  been  Revolutionary  soldiers.  After 
due  investigation,  the  court  confirmed  their  declarations  as  true.  The 
same  was  done  in  the  case  of  Thomas  Sloan. 

A  matter  of  business  indicative  of  the  crude  mercantile  methods  of 
that  day  was  the  application  before  the  county  commissioners  of  a  num- 
ber of  men  who  applied  for  license  to  sell  goods.  These  men  were  James 
Allin,  M.  L.  Covell,  John  and  Samuel  Durley,  and  Benjamin  Haines.  The 
merchant  of  the  early  times  carried  a  miscellaneous  collection  of  articles 
such  as  he  thought  would  supply  the  needs  of  the  pioneer.  When  he 
wanted  to  replenish  his  stock,  he  would  go  among  his  neighbors  and  try 
to  collect  enough  of  their  outstanding  debts  to  at  least  pay  his  expenses 
on  a  trip  to  Pekin  or  St.  Louis,  which  he  made  partly  by  wagon  and  partly 


History  of  McLean  County  79 

by  boat.  Chicago  in  those  days  was  little  known  or  patronized  by  McLean 
County  people. 

In  the  March  term,  1833,  a  license  was  granted  to  Greenbury  Lari- 
son  for  $5  to  keep  a  tavern  in  the  town  of  Bloomington.  This  same  term 
levied  a  tax  of  one-half  per  cent  on  all  personal  property  and  town  lots. 
The  first  instance  of  granting  public  aid  to  the  poor  was  in  the  case  of  a 
girl  by  the  name  of  Maryann  King,  who  was  8  years  of  age,  and  she 
was  bound  as  an  apprentice  to  the  house  of  Gervis  Gaylord  until  s7ie 
should  reach  the  age  of  18. 

New  election  precincts  were  formed  at  the  June  term,  1833,  and 
election  judges  were  named.  At  the  March  term,  1834,  it  was  reported 
that  the  total  amount  realized  from  the  sale  of  lots  in  the  town  of  Bloom- 
ington was  $963.92i/2. 

In  March,  1835,  a  permission  was  granted  to  George  W.  Wallis  to 
erect,  under  certain  restrictions,  a  milldam  and  mills  on  the  Mackinaw, 
and  to  Tebulan  G.  Cantrill  and  Metthew  McElhiney  each  a  permit  to  build 
a  mill  on  the  Kickapoo.  The  sheriff  was,  authorized  at  this  session  to 
rent  the  court  house  for  a  school  house  under  certain  restrictions,  at  $3 
per  month.    The  taxes  for  the  year  1835  were  reported  as  $1,241.4214. 

The  first  case  on  the  county  records  of  advertising  for  public  bids 
was  that  of  the  October  term,  1835,  when  the  court  was  directed  to  insert 
in  the  "Illinois  Republican"  a  notice  that  proposals  would  be  received  for 
the  erecting  of  a  court  house  40  feet  square  two  stories  high,  of  brick.  The 
county  treasurer  was  authorized  to  pay  for  this  little  "adv." 

New  towns  were  springing  up  at  this  time,  as  evidenced  "by  the  fact 
that  in  December,  1835,  a  plat  of  the  village  of  New  Castle  was  presented 
to  the  county  commissioners  by  Timothy  B.  Hoblit  and  James  Allin,  and 
of  the  town  of  Leroy  by  Asahel  Gridley  and  M.  L.  Covell.  Applications 
for  license  to  sell  goods  in  Leroy  was  made  by  John  W.  Baddely;  in 
Waynesville  by  David  Duncan  and  R.  Post,  and  in  McLean  county  by  A. 
Gridley,  Ortagal  Covell  and  Calvin  Carpenter.  The  county  commissioners 
appointed  Thomas  H.  Haines  their  attorney  to  effect  a  loan  of  $5,000  at 
not  to  exceed  8  per  cent  interest,  in  preparation  for  the  building  of  a 
court  house. 

From  1850  to  1857  the  discussion  of  the  question  of  what  form  of 
county  government  should  prevail  in  McLean  was  waged  with  intensity. 


80  History  of  McLean  County 

Three  elections  on  the  question  were  held,  one  in  1850,  the  second  in  1856, 
and  the  third  in  1857.  In  the  first  two,  the  proposal  for  township  organ- 
ization did  not  receive  a  majority  of  all  the  votes  in  the  county,  although 
it  received  a  majority  of  all  votes  cast  in  each  case.  The  discussion  was 
brought  to  a  head  by  the  act  of  the  County  Justices'  Court  in  1857  in 
donating  $70,000  worth  of  swamp  land  for  the  location  of  the  State  Nor- 
mal University  in  this  county.  This  land  had  been  given  the  county  by 
the  federal  government,  and  up  to  that  time  its  disposal  was  a  matter 
of  uncertainty.  The  county  court's  liberal  offer  of  this  land  was  the  de- 
ciding factor  in  the  location  of  the  Normal  University,  but  when  the  prof- 
fer to  give  this  land  for  the  purpose  was  made,  it  stirred  much  discussion, 
and  many  people  thought  the  county  court  had  exceeded  its  authority. 
The  action  of  offering  the  land  was  done  in  secret  session,  so  as  »not  to 
let  the  chief  competitor,  Peoria,  know  of  this  liberal  donation.  Although 
this  secrecy  was  much  criticised,  the  action  was  ratified  by  the  first  meet- 
ing of  the  board  of  supervisors  after  county  reorganization  was  adopted. 
The  final  vote  on  township  organization  was  taken  on  Nov.  3,  1857,  and 
stood  as  follows:  For  township  organization,  2,109;  against  township 
organization,  786;  majority  in  favor,  1,323. 

The  last  meeting  of  the  old  County  Court  was  held  in  March,  1858, 
and  the  new  form  of  township  organization  was  perfected  at  the  elections 
in  April,  when  supervisors  were  elected  from  the  various  townships  which 
had  been  created.     This  board  met  on  May  17,  1858. 

Several  changes  of  the  names  of  the  townships  have  been  made  since 
they  were  first  organized  in  1858.  Savanna  township  has  been  changed  to 
Downs;  Leroy  is  now  Empire;  Lee  was  changed  to  Padua;  Kickapoo  to 
West,  in  honor  of  Henry  West;  Pleasant  to  Arrowsmith;  Prairie  to  Bell- 
flower;  Mosquito  Grove  changed  to  Allin,  in  honor  of  James  Allin,  the 
pioneer;  Padua  changed  to  Dawson,  in  honor  of  John  Wells  Dawson: 
Cropsey  was  divided  into  two  townships,  and  the  new  one  was  named 
Anchor,  the  division  being  made  in  1877.  Chenoa  was  divided  in  1863, 
the  new  township  being  named  Union,  which  was  afterward  changed  to 
Yates,  in  honor  of  Richard  Yates,  the  Civil  war  governor  of  Illinois. 


(jRffMflf 

of  m 


BLOOMING  GROVE  MARKER. 


CHAPTER  IV. 


TOWNS  AND  TOWNSHIPS. 


ALLIN — ANCHOR — ARROWSMITH— BELLFLOWER — BLOOMINGTON — BLUE  MOUND — 
CHENEYS  GROVE — CHENOA— CROPSEY — DALE — DANVERS — DAWSON — DOWNS 
DRY  GROVE — EMPIRE. 

A  condensed  story  of  the  early  settlement  and  development  of  the 
various  townships  of  McLean  County,  together  with  the  founding  and 
incorporation  of  the  towns  and  villages  is  told  as  follows: 

Allin  Township. — Originally  this  township  was  called  Mosquito  Grove, 
in  honor  of  one  of  the  three  groves  which  were  located  there.  On  May 
3,  1867,  the  name  was  changed  to  Allin,  in  honor  of  James  Allin,  the  pio- 
neer. The  groves  were  Mosquito,  Brown's  and  Brooks'  groves.  With  the 
exception  of  these,  totaling  1,400  acres,  the  township  was  prairie  land. 
The  first  settler  was  Miles  Brooks,  in  whose  honor  the  grove  was  named. 
William  Brown  was  the  man  after  whom  the  other  grove  was  named. 
Mosquito  Grove  was  early  inhabited  by  a  family  by  the  name  of  Reddon, 
a  notorious  band  of  outlaws  and  horse  thieves  who  were  supposed  to  be 
one  link  in  the  chain  of  such  characters  which  stretched  across  Iowa  and 
Illinois.  Robert  Stubblefield  at  one  time  caught  one  of  the  Reddons  red- 
handed  with  stolen  horses  and  he  was  indicted  and  convicted.  At  an- 
other time  Isaac  Funk,  Robert  Stubblefield,  John  Stubblefield,  Ebenezer 
Mitchell  and  others  made  a  midnight  call  at  the  Reddon  home  looking  for 
stolen  horses,  but  found  none.  It  was  after  a  famous  murder  of  one  Co?. 
George  Davenport  at  Rock  Island,  with  which  the  Reddon  gang  was  sup- 
posed to  have  had  some  hand,  that  the  decent  people  of  the  neighborhood 
decided  to  rid  the  community  of  them,  which  was  effectively  done  by  a 

81 

(4) 


82  History  of  McLean  County 

"ring  hunt"  which  had  the  desired  effect  and  scared  the  men  away,  never 
to  return. 

Stanford,  the  town  located  in  Allin  township,  was  laid  out  by  John 
Armstrong  in  1867  on  the  Jacksonville  branch  of  the  Alton  road,  and  was 
incorporated  as  a  village.  It  was  first  called  Allin,  but  the  name  was 
changed  to  Stanford.  The  town  is  among  the  richest  in  the  county,  hav- 
ing two  general  stores,  a  fine  school  house,  one  bank,  two  implement  and 
hardware  stores,  three  elevators,  and  many  other  places  of  business.  For 
many  years  Stanford  has  maintained  a  fair  which  attracts  many  people 
every  autumn.    The  population  is  about  700. 

Anchor  Township. — This  township  is  practically  all  prairie  land,  and 
it  remained  unsettled  for  many  years  after  other  parts  of  the  county  were 
populated  to  more  or  less  extent.  R.  M.  Rankin  entered  the  first  lands 
in  Anchor  townshi  pin  August,  1850,  and  Robert  Cunningham  was  the 
second  claimant  in  1851.  Robert  Stackpole  settled  in  the  township  in 
1853  and  bought  a  tract  of  over  2,300  acres.  He  incurred  large  expenses 
for  fencing  and  other  improvements,  and  crops  failed  for  a  year  or  two 
after,  her  started  farming,  hence  his  lands  were  sold  for  debt  about  the 
time  of  the  Civil  war.  Anchor  township  was  first  a  part  of  Cropsey,  but 
in  1877  was  separated  from  it,  leaving  Cropsey  only  half  the  area  of  a 
congressional  township.  George  R.  Birch,  its  supervisor,  gave  it  its  name. 
After  the  Civil  war  the  township  was  rapidly  settled  up,  A.  R.  Jones  ac- 
quiring most  of  the  lands  formerly  owned  by  Stackpole.  Among  the 
earlier  settlers  after  the  war  were  A.  S.  Dart,  John  Ingram,  N.  Brinley, 
Henry  Gilstrap,  M.  H.  Knight,  R.  H.  Arnold,  Daniel  B.  Stewart,  W.  H. 
and  F.  M.  Anderson.  The  settlers  of  this  vicinity  were  largely  of  German 
extraction  for  the  last  30  years,  and  being  of  a  thrifty  character  the  farms 
of  Anchor  are  among  the  best  in  the  county.  With  the  building  of  a 
branch  of  the  Illinois  Central  railroad  through  this  township  in  1880,  a 
town,  also  called  Anchor,  sprang  up  on  a  site  covering  part  of  Daniel  B. 
Stewart's  land.  It  formed  a  trading  center  for  the  people  of  Anchor  and 
Cropsey  townships.  The  village  was  incorporated  soon  after  it  was  set- 
tled. The  source  of  the  Mackinaw  river  is  generally  presumed  to  be  in 
Anchor  township. 

Arrowsmith  Township. — This  township  has  one  of  the  most  romantic 
histories  in  the  county  so  far  as  the  times  before  the  white  settlers  came 


History  of  McLean  County  83 

is  concerned.  It  was  here  that  one  of  the  chief  Indian  settlements  in  the 
county  is  said  to  have  existed,  and  here  too,  are  evidences  of  an  Indian 
fort  and  scenes  of  battles,  either  between  hostile  tribes  of  Indians  or  be- 
tween white  men  and  Indians.  The  township  was  first  called  Pleasant,  but 
afterward  named  Arrowsmith  in  honor  of  Ezekiel  Arrowsmith,  who  was 
supervisor  of  the  township  in  1858,  when  the  change  of  name  was  made. 
Jonathan  Cheney  entered  the  first  land  in  the  township,  having  laid  claim 
to  a  tract  near  the  grove  in  the  southwest  part,  which  was  in  fact  part 
of  the  Old  Town  timber.  Here  was  located,  according  to  evidence  of  early 
settlers,  quite  an  Indian  town,  and  also  an  Indian  burying  ground  belong- 
ing to  the  Kickapoos.  John  Wells  Dawson,  the  first  settler,  had  personal 
knowledge  of  these  two  Indian  habitations.  The  Indian  burying  ground 
was  just  over  the  line  from  West  township  in  Arrowsmith,  while  the 
Indian  town  was  a  few  miles  northwest  of  this,  near  the  home  of  John 
Dawson.  But  the  most  notable  Indian  relics  were  those  found  near  a 
grove  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  township,  first  owned  by  Jacob  Smith, 
on  section  24.  At  the  headwaters  of  the  Sangamon  river  in  this  vicinity 
is  a  hill  or  mound  some  20  feet  in  height  and  an  acre  in  extent  at  the  top. 
Early  settlers  found  there  many  excavations  or  pits,  which  later  became 
overgrown  with  grass  and  underbrush  until  they  were  almost  lost  to  sight. 
Some  distance  away,  about  the  distance  which  may  be  calculated  as  a 
gunshot,  are  located  zigzag  pits  or  ditches.  Here  have  been  found  from 
time  to  time  many  leaden  bullets.  From  all  these  evidences  the  local  his- 
torians have  concluded  that  a  battle  occurred  here  between  an  attacking 
party  in  the  ditches  and  the  defenders  of  the  hill  with  its  pits.  The  course 
of  the  Sangamon,  the  location  of  the  hill  and  the  "rifle  pits,"  and  the  find- 
ing of  bullets  in  the  vicinity,  all  point  to  a  battle.  The  McLean  County 
Historical  Society,  under  the  direction  of  the  late  Capt.  John  H.  Burnham, 
made  many  attempts  to  excavate  these  pits  and  mounds  for  historic  evi- 
dences, and  they  were  in  part  successful.  The  society  obtained  some  two 
pounds  of  leaden  bullets  by  their  several  explorations.  Those  who  do  not 
credit  the  theory  of  a  battle  between  the  Kickapoos  and  some  hostile  tribe, 
say  the  battle  might  have  been  between  the  Kickapoos  and  a  band  of 
French  soldiers  from  Fort  Chartres,  who  were  once  said  to  have  been 
sent  out  to  "chastise"  the  Kickapoos,  known  as  the  "Indians  of  the  prai- 
rie." A  half-breed  Indian  of  the  Pottawatomie  tribe,  is  quoted  by  one 
authority  as  having  heard  traditions  among  his  people  of  a  battle  between 


84  History  of  McLean  county 

the  Kickapoos  and  Foxes  on  one  side  and  the  Ottawas  and  Chippewas  on 
the  other,  which  occurred  in  a  fortification  near  the  Sangamon  river.  This 
seems  to  identify  the  Arrowsmith  "battle  ground"  as  the  site  of  an  an- 
cient struggle  of  hostile  tribes.  The  late  Hiram  Beckwith  of  Danville,  a 
noted  Illinois  historian,  held  to  the  theory  that  the  McLean  County  Indian 
battle  ground  was  the  scene  of  a  fight  between  Indians  and  French  gar- 
risons from  Fort  Chartres. 

The  village  of  Arrowsmith  was  founded  when  the  railroad,  afterward 
known  as  the  Lake  Erie,  was  built  through  the  township,  for  which  Ar- 
rowsmith township  voted  the  sum  of  $25,000  in  bonds  to  aid  in  its  build- 
ing. Trains  began  running  through  the  village  in  1872,  and  at  once  it 
became  an  important  grain  and  stock  shipping  point.  The  only  stone 
quarry  in  McLean  County  was  located  near  Arrowsmith  for  many  years, 
but  was  later  abandoned,  since  the  stone  was  of  poor  quality.  The  land 
upon  which  this  village  is  located  belonged  to  Anderson  Young,  Jonas 
Fry,  James  Crosson  and  M.  Ullmer,  ten  acres  each.  When  it  was  decided 
in  1871  that  the  railroad  would  run  through  this  place,  the  town  was 
platted.  S.  E.  Cline  put  in  a  scales  the  same  year  and  he  and  James  Lari- 
mer began  buying  and  cribbing  corn.  The  railroad  switch  was  put  in  and 
a  depot  built  in  1872.  Larimer  &  Jones  built  the  first  store  north  of  the 
railroad,  and  W.  H.  Thompson  moved  his  store  from  Cross  Roads  in  1873. 
The  postoffice  was  also  moved  to  Arrowsmith  from  that  place.  R.  S.  Crum 
built  the  first  residence.  The  village  of  Arrowsmith  was  organized  in 
1890  and  since  has  had  a  good  growth.  The  population  is  400  and  it  is 
well  supplied  with  religious  and  educational  facilities. 

Bellflower  Township. — This  township  was  originally  named  Prairie 
when  the  township  organization  was  effected  in  1858.  It  was  the  only 
township  in  the  county  which  possessed  no  timber.  The  first  supervisor, 
Jesse  Richards,  chose  the  name  of  Bellflower,  that  being  his  favorite  ap- 
ple. It  is  the  most  southeasterly  township  of  the  county.  It  was  first 
used  as  a  cattle  range  by  the  pioneers  of  Cheney's  Grove  and  other  sec- 
tions. The  township  possessed  much  wet  land,  classified  by  the  govern- 
ment as  swamp  land,  and  this  was  donated  by  the  county  commissioners 
in  1857  to  secure  the  location  of  the  Normal  University  in  the  county. 
Springfield  parties  bought  up  this  land,  but  it  was  not  drained  and  occu- 
pied until  after  the  Civil  war.    Much  of  the  land  of  the  township  has  al- 


History  of  McLean  County  85 

ways  been  owned  by  nonresidents  and  operated  by  tenants.  Neverthe- 
less it  has  become  one  of  the  best  farming  sections  of  the  county.  The 
people  voted  in  1871  $30,000  in  bonds  to  secure  a  branch  of  the  Illinois 
Central  railroad  through  their  township.  It  was  the  first  township  in  the 
county  to  erect  a  township  high  school,  the  structure  costing  $9,000,  being 
built  in  1905.  Its  example  in  this  respect  was  in  later  years  followed  by 
many  other  townships.  With  the  I.  C.  railroad  running  through  the  cen- 
ter of  the  township  and  the  Wabash  cutting  off  a  corner,  there  are  six 
shipping  stations  in  the  township,  namely  the  village  of  Bellflower, 
McNulta  Switch,  and  Laurette  on  the  main  line  of  the  I.  C. ;  and  Meharry 
and  Sumner  on  the  Rantoul  branch  of  the  Central,  and  Osman  on  the  Wa- 
bash. Just  over  the  line  in  Champaign  County  are  two  others,  Harpster 
and  Lotus.  M^o^v-^oa-^ 

The  village  of  Bellflower  was  platted  and  laid  out  by  George  N.  Black 
of  Springfield,  who  owned  much  land  in  that  vicinity.  The  first  man  who 
engaged  in  business  in  the  town  was  R.  E.  Moreland,  who  began  buying 
grain  in  August,  1871.  A.  and  A.  J.  Henry  started  in  business  there  the 
following  winter.  John  Nichols  built  the  first  residence  and  started  a 
grocery  in  1871.  A.  Libairn  started  a  general  store  about  the  same  time. 
T.  B.  Groves  erected  a  home  and  started  a  hardware  store  in  1872.  Other 
early  business  men  were  J.  W.  Eyestone,  E.  L.  Rush,  R.  Rome,  Hiram 
Rush,  and  G.  W.  Stokes.  The  first  postmaster  was  A.  H.  Marquis.  Bell- 
flower  has  always  been  a  great  grain  market.  Many  churches  and  sev- 
eral fraternal  organizations  are  included  in  the  community  interests. 
Originally  an  entirely  prairie  township,  yet  the  people  have  planted  many 
trees  and  the  town  and  countryside  are  well  supplied.  The  population  is 
about  500  people. 

Bloomington  Township. — The  settlement  of  Bloomington  township 
grew  out  of  the  original  settlement  of  the  county,  at  Blooming  Grove. 
As  stated  elsewhere,  the  grove  was  first  called  Keg  Grove,  owing  to  the 
tradition  that  Kickapoos  had  found  a  keg  of  rum  there  soon  after  the 
white  men  arrived.  Before  the  whites'  came  here  there  had  been  an 
Indian  village  at  the  timber  farther  east,  known  to  early  settlers  as  Old 
Town  timber,  after  the  old  Indian  town.  The  nearest  white  settlements 
prior  to  that  of  Blooming  Grove  were  at  Peoria,  40  miles  distant,  and  at 
Starved  Rock,  old  Fort  St.  Louis,  60  miles  north.     John  Hendrix  and 


86  History  of  McLean  County 

John  Dawson  came  to  Blooming  Grove  in  April,  1822,  and  next  year 
Dawson's  family  followed.  Dawson  in  1826  moved  to  Old  Town  timber, 
later  named  Dawson  township  in  his  honor.  Other  settlers  followed  the 
first  two,  until  by  the  year  1831  there  were  50  families  living  in  and 
around  Blooming  Grove.  Burnham's  history  of  Bloomingto»n  gives  the 
names  of  these  families  as  follows:  John  Hendrix,  Rev.  E.  Rhodes,  Jere- 
miah Rhodes,  William  and  Thomas  Orendorff,  Rev.  James  Latta,  Henry 
Little,  John  H.  S.  Rhodes,  William  Goodheart,  William  H.  Hodge,  William 
Lindley,  Mrs.  Benjamin  Cox,  David  Simmons,  John  Benson,  James  Ben- 
son, George  Hinshaw,  William  Chatham,  Moses  Dunlap,  William  Waldron, 
Anthony  Alberry,  William  Thomas,  John  Canady,  James  Canady,  Oman 
Olney,  Joseph  Walker,  Sr.,  William  Michaels,  John  Lindley,  Joseph  Bailey, 
Harbord,  Achilles  Deatherage,  William  Walker,  Timothy  M.  Gates,  William 
Lucas,  John  Cox,  Dr.  Isaac  Baker,  Maj.  Seth  Baker,  H.  M.  Harbord,  Parr 
Rathbone,  John  Mullins,  Michael  Allington,  Nathan  Low,  John  Benson, 
Jr,.  and  Benjamin  Depew.  There  were  also  a  number  of  single  men  liv- 
ing in  the  grove  at  the  time.  Just  north  of  the  grove  and  within  the 
territory  afterward  inside  the  city  limits  lived  Henry  Miller,  James  Tol- 
liver,  James  Allin,  John  Greenman,  William  Evans,  John  Maxwell,  John 
Kimler  and  James  Mason.  The  young  single  men  in  the  city  limits  when 
first  laid  out  were  William  Dimmitt,  William  Evans,  jr.,  Frank  Evans, 
William  Durley,  Merritt  L.  Covell,  W.  H.  Allin,  William  Greenman,  Esek 
Greenman,  Samuel  Durley,  John  Durley  and  Samuel  Evans. 

James  Allin  seems  to  have  been  the  first  man  to  see  in  this  flourish- 
ing young  settlement  the  chance  to  secure  the  county  seat  of  a  new 
county  and  to  build  up  here  a  little  city.  He  therefore  platted  the  town, 
and  on  July  4,  1831,  the  first  auction  sale  of  lots  was  held.  There  were 
probably  between  250  and  300  people  in  the  settlement  at  that  time.  A 
postoffice  had  been  established  at  Blooming  Grove  in  1829,  and  it  was 
moved  to  the  town  in  1832,  being  named  Bloomington,  probably  as  a 
•natural  adaptation  of  the  original  name  of  Blooming  Grove.  This  was 
the  third  place  in  the  United  States  to  be  called  Bloomington. 

From  Milo  Custer's  investigations  it  appears  that  James  Allin  en- 
tered the  east  half  of  the  southwest  quarters  of  section  4,  township  23 
north  range  2  east  of  the  third  principal  meridian,  eighty  acres,  on  Oct. 
27,  1829.  This  roughly  comprised  the  land  now  in  the  city  of  Blooming- 
ton between  East,  Monroe,  Roosevelt  avenue  and  Oakland  avenue.     Allin 


History  of  McLean  County  87 

later  bought  from  Robert  H.  Peebles  another  80  acres  lying  north  of  his 
entry.  A  commission  of  the  legislature  in  the  winter  of  1831  had  been 
appointed  to  investigate  a  site  for  the  county  seat  of  a  new  county  to  be 
organized  under  act  of  the  legislature  of  Dec.  25,  1830,  and  named  McLean 
County.  This  commission  reported  to  the  county  commissioners  at  their 
session  on  May  16,  1831,  that  James  Allin  had  obligated  himself  to  do- 
nate 22  acres  at  the  north  end  of  Blooming  Grove  settlement.  Dr.  Baker 
was  employed  to  plat  this  tract  into  town  lots  and  advertise  their  sale  on 
July  4.  The  sale  was  held  accordingly  at  the  date  advertised.  Timothy 
B.  Hoblit,  one  of  the  county  commissioners,  acted  as  auctioneer,  and  Dr. 
Baker  as  clerk.  The  people  in  attendance  followed  the  auctioneer  around 
from  lot  to  lot  until  all  were  sold.  There  were  six  lots  to  a  block,  three 
fronting  each  street  running  east  and  west,  with  an  alley  between.  The 
record  of  the  county  commissioners  of  date  Feb.  10,  1833,  shows  that 
deeds  were  executed  to  buyers  of  the  lots  in  the  original  town  plat  as  fol- 
lows: James  Latta,  Martin  Scott,  A.  Gridley,  Nathan  Low,  William  R. 
Robertson,  John  Maxwell,  Ebenezer  Rhodes,  Cheney  Thomas,  Solomon 
Dodge,  Caleb  Kimler,  Jesse  Frankeberger,  Jesse  Havens,  Fredrick  Trim- 
mer, M.  L.  Covell,  John  W.  Dawson,  David  Wheeler,  Alvin  Barnett,  Jona- 
than Cheney,  Joseph  B.  Harbert,  Eli  Frankeberger,  Hezekiah  M.  Harbert, 
Richard  Gross,  William  Harbert,  Samuel  Durley,  Orman  Robertson,  Bai- 
ley Kimler,  Bailey  H.  Coffey,  Lewis  Sowards,  John  W.  Harbert,  Isaac 
Baker,  Absolom  Funk.  Several  of  the  lots  offered  at  auction  on  July  4 
were  not  disposed  at  that  time  but  were  sold  at  later  dates,  as  shown  by 
deeds  of  record. 

The  block  which  had  been  set  aside  for  the  site  of  the  court  house, 
bounded  by  Main,  Jefferson,  Center  and  Washington  streets,  was  not  all 
held  out  from  the  sale,  but  two  lots  fronting  on  Jefferson  street  were 
sold,  that  at  Jefferson  and  Center  to  James  Latta  for.  $16,  and  that  at 
Jefferson  and  Main  to  M.  L.  Covell,  who  paid  $80  for  this  and  four  other 
lots.  The  buyers  of  these  two  lots  afterward  disposed  of  them  to  other 
parties,  and  finally  the  county  commissioners  purchased  the  lots  for  the 
county,  the  Latta  lot  for  $100  in  1847,  the  Covell  lots  for  $210  in  1849. 
Thus  the  entire  square  became  county  property. 

The  young  county  seat  had  a  steady  growth  at  first,  and  by  1836 
had  a  population  of  450  people.  It  was  the  center  of  trade  for  all  the 
settlements  in  McLean  County.     The  country  around  was  farmed  after 


88  History  of  McLean  County 

a  crude  fashion,  wooden  plows  being  more  common  than  iron,  and  wheat 
was  cut  with  a  sickle.  Markets  were  distant  and  not  of  easy  access. 
Stock,  mostly  hogs,  were  allowed  to  run  almost  wild,  and  driven  long 
distance  to  market.  The  town  had  a  comparatively  slow  growth  until 
the  advent  of  railroads  in  the  '50's  gave  it  a  new  impetus. 

The  history  of  Bloomington  township  and  the  city  of  Bloomington 
were  so  closely  interwoven  as  to  be  inseparable  for  many  years.  More 
of  the  details  of  the  growth  of  the  city  is  given  under  its  proper  heading. 
The  territory  of  the  original  town  or  village  was  approximately  one  mile 
square.  It  was  incorporated  as  a  village  in  1843  and  elected  trustees 
until  1850,  when  it  was  organized  as  a  city  with  mayor  and  aldermen. 
The  city  council  thereafter  made  many  additions  to  the  city. 

The  city  was  finally  divorced  from  Bloomington  township,  when  in. 
1911  the  voters  of  the  city  voted  favorably  on  the  proposed  organization 
of  the  township  of  the  city  of  Bloomington,  whose  boundaries  should  be 
co-extensive  with  the  city  limits.  This  left  a  strip  of  land  lying  on  three 
sides  of  the  city  which  is  now  known  as  Bloomington  township.  The 
cutting  off  from  this  outlying  township  of  much  of  its  revenue  by  trans- 
ferring all  the  taxable  property  of  the  city  to  the  township  of  the  city 
of  Bloomington,  left  Bloomington  township  much  handicapped  from  a 
financial  standpoint.  Normal  Township  also  lost  by  the  change,  for  part 
of  the  Normal  township  lay  inside  the  city  limits  of  Bloomington.  Since 
the  date  of  this  reorganization,  the  city  and  township  have  been  governed 
jointly,  very  little  difference  being  made  in  the  procedure  except  as  to  the 
collection  of  taxes. 

The  part  of  the  former  Bloomington  township  which  was  left  after 
the  organization  of  the  township  of  the  city  of  Bloomington  maintains 
its  township  government,  with  school  trustees,  highway  commissioners 
and  other  necessary  officers.  Its  business  relates  mostly  to  roads  and 
school  affairs.  It  is  handicapped  in  many  ways  by  smallness  of  its  reve- 
nues due  to  the  exclusion  of  a  large  portion  of  its  taxable  property  from 
the  present  township  by  the  formation  of  the  city  township.  The  pres- 
ent supervisor  of  Bloomington  township  is  George  W.  Knight. 

Blue  Mounds  Township. — This  township,  consisting  entirely  of  prai- 
rie land,  takes  its  name  from  a  ridge  which  was  to  be  seen  in  the  early 
days  located  in  section  28,  but  which  is  now  not  visible  from  a  distance 


History  of  McLean  County  89 

owing  to  the  obstructions  of  hedges,  orchards,  etc.  Being  prairie,  the 
township  was  not  settled  until  a  later  period  than  sections  of  the  county 
which  had  timber.  The  land  composing  the  township  was  largely  govern- 
ment or  railroad  lands,  which  were  held  off  the  market  for  some  years 
after  settlements  had  been  made  elsewhere.  The  first  settler  was  sup- 
posed to  have  been  Thomas  Arnold,  who  located  in  1853  on  section  27.  In 
the  next  year  came  J.  S.  Stagner  and  W.  L.  Burton  and  others.  There  were 
several  farms  taken  up  before  the  years  1857  and  1858,  when  the  general 
panic  and  failure  of  the  wheat  crop  bankrupted  many  farmers.  James  H. 
Doyle  was  the  first  supervisor  when  the  township  was  organized  in  1858, 
and  David  Wheeler  was  supervisor  when  the  civil  war  broke  out.  Many 
soldiers  went  into  the  army  from  this  township,  but  owing  to  there  being 
no  postoffice  their  enlistments  were  credited  to  other  townships.  After 
the  close  of  the  civil  war  was  the  great  rush  of  settlers,  and  most  of  the 
farms  were  taken  up  by  1867,  many  by  returning  soldiers,  who  married 
and  established  homes. 

When  the  Kankakee  branch  of  the  Illinois  Central  road  was  built 
in  1884,  it  resulted  in  establishing  two  villages  or  grain  shipping  points. 
One  was  Cooksville  on  the  eastern  border,  the  other  Fletcher,  on  the 
western.  Cooksville  was  named  after  F.  W.  Koch  of  Bloomington,  who 
owned  land  in  the  vicinity.  The  German  form  of  the  name  was  anglicized. 
The  village  was  incorporated  in  1901  with  about  300  inhabitants.  Blue 
Mound  township  possesses  on  an  average  about  the  best  prairie  soil  in 
the  county,  and  its  farms  are  prosperous  and  well  kept  of  late  years  in 
spite  of  early  hardships.  Money  Creek  flows  through  the  southwestern 
part  of  the  township,  while  two  small  streams  unite  in  the  northeast  and 
flow  into  the  Mackinaw  river. 

Cheney's  Grove  Township. — Jonathan  Cheney,  who  with  his  family 
had  lived  at  Blooming  Grove,  set  out  to  find  another  location  in  1825,  and 
decided  to  build  his  home  at  another  grove  to  the  north  and  east.  This 
grove  of  3,000  acres  of  timber  ever  after  took  the  name  of  Cheney,  and 
his  home  became  the  center  of  the  new  settlement  which  grew  into  a 
township  and  the  town  of  Saybrook.  The  grove  is  located  at  the  head- 
waters of  the  Sangamon  river,  which  flows  through  it  and  makes  a  de- 
lightful place  in  pioneer  times  or  the  present.  Until  about  the  year  1829, 
the  Cheneys  were  the  only  settlers  at  this  grove,  but  in  the  latter  year 


90  History  of  McLean  County 

came  James  Van  Scoyoc  and  the  Robert  Cunningham  family,  followed 
the  next  year  by  the  Means,  Riggs  and  Myers  and  the  Ball  families. 
During  the  year  of  the  Black  Hawk  war,  1832,  some  of  the  families  were 
removed  to  locations  farther  east  in  Champaign  County,  for  the  sake  of 
safety.  The  settlement  grew  in  permanent  character,  and  many  of  the 
families  intermarried.  The  land  of  part  of  this  township  is  not  as  rich 
and  deep  as  some  of  the  other  black  soil  townships.  Being  hilly  and  roll- 
ing, it  suffered  from  hard  rains.  The  settlers  in  the  early  years  had  to 
go  long  distances  for  their  milling  and  supplies,  to  Bloomington  or  Mack- 
inawtown,  or  eastward  to  the  Wabash  river,  since  most  of  the  mills  of 
the  time  were  run  by  water.  A  village  called  Saybrook  was  established, 
but  it  had  a  very  slow  growth  in  the  first  years,  until  after  the  railroad 
was  built  in  1871.  Robert  Cunningham  built  a  grist  mill  and  a  saw  mill 
on  the  banks  of  Sangamon,  but  the  flow  of  water  was  uncertain.  In  1850 
he  changed  to  steam  power.  The  postoffice  which  was  established  in 
1831  under  the  name  of  Cheney's  Grove  was  changed  to  Saybrook  in 
1865.  The  Methodist  church  and  school  board  united  and  built  a  two- 
story  building  along  in  the  '60's. 

Cheney's  Grove  furnished  many  soldiers  for  the  civil  war,  and  one 
company  recruited  here  became  Co.  F  of  the  116th  Illinois.  In  the  world 
war  the  township  furnished  its  full  quota  of  soldiers  for  every  branch 
of  service. 

A  new  era  dawned  for  Cheney's  Grove  when  the  charter  for  the  rail- 
road was  obtained  from  the  legislature  in  1867  through  the  efforts  of 
W.  H.  Cheney,  son  of  Jonathan  Cheney,  who  was  then  state  senator. 
Senator  Cheney  was  elected  in  1865  to  fulfill  out  the  unexpired  term  of 
Isaac  Funk,  who  died  that  year.  Cheney  defeated  Col.  John  McNulta, 
who  ran  as  a»n  independent  republican.  Cheney  tried  to  get  the  road  built 
through 'the  south  side  of  the  grove  near  his  own  farm.  By  the  gift  of 
$10,000  from  the  village  of  Saybrook  and  $50,000  from  the  township,  a 
station  was  secured  for  Saybrook,  deflecting  the  line  to  the  south  a  con- 
siderable distance  from  a  straight  line.  After  the  railroad  was  built, 
Saybrook  had  a  more  rapid  growth  than  formerly,  and  became  one  of  the 
flourishing  towns  of  the  county,  in  spite  of  several  bad  fires  it  experienced. 

Saybrook's  business  section  is  among  the  best  built  of  any  town  in 
the  county.  It  has  several  large  brick  structures  of  two  and  three  stories. 
Flourishing  lodges  of  Masons  and  Odd  Fellows  are  located  here,  and  a  live 


History  of  McLean  County  91 

post  of  the  American  Legion.  The  churches  are  the  United  Brethren, 
Methodist  and  Christian.  The  school  system  includes  a  community  high 
school  and  the  grades,  with  a  gymnasium  in  a  separate  building  where 
basketball  and  other  sports  are  carried  on.  There  is  a  live  Parent-Teach- 
ers' Association.  Two  live  clubs  for  women  are  the  Fortnightly  and  the 
Progressive  Literary  club.  They  are  both  devoted  to  serious  studies. 
The  little  park  in  the  center  of  the  city  is  the  scene  of  annual  chautau- 
quas,  band  concerts  and  other  public  entertainments.  The  Weekly  Ga- 
zette supplies  Saybrook  and  vicinity  with  readable  weekly  news,  con- 
ducted by  Frank  Woolley.  J.  S.  Harper,  a  veteran  newspaper  man  of 
McLean  County,  made  his  home  at  Saybrook  for  many  years.  The  city 
has  a  volunteer  fire  department  of  ten  men,  with  horse-drawn  gasoline 
pump  for  equipment.  In  case  of  emergencies,  water  from  the  railroad 
tanks  can  be  used. 

Chenoa  Township. — The  name  of  this  township  was  meant  for  Che- 
•nowa,  which  Matthew  T.  Scott,  its  earliest  settler,  gave  it.  He  came  from 
Kentucky,  and  Chenowa  was  the  Indian  name  of  Kentucky  and  he  be- 
stowed it  upon  his  new  settlement.  The  postoffice  department  made  a 
mistake  in  first  noting  the  name,  leaving  out  the  "w",  and  refused  ever 
afterward  to  correct  it,  hence  Chenoa  was  the  word  that  stuck.  The 
prairie  lands  of  Chenoa  Township  long  remained  unsettled  after  other 
portions  were  taken  up.  The  Chicago  &  Alton  railroad  having  been  built 
through  the  township  in  1854,  settlers  began  to  come  after  that.  By 
1856  there  were  rumors  of  a  new  road  to  be  built  east  and  west.  Matthew 
T.  Scott,  a  you»ng  man  from  Kentucky,  had  taken  up  a  large  tract  of  land 
in  the  vicinity,  and  he  wanted  to  found  a  town  where  the  new  road  would 
cross  the  Chicago  &  Alton.  To  locate  the  spot,  he  went  east  and  found 
engineers  running  lines.  Being  an  amateur  engineer,  he  was  able  to 
calculate  about  the  place  where  the  line  would  reach  the  Alton  road,  and 
there  he  took  up  land  and  laid  it  out  in  town  blocks.  Meantime,  another 
man,  W.  M.  Hamilton,  formerly  a  friend  of  Mr.  Scott,  started  a  rival 
town  east  on  his  own  land  lying  considerably  east  of  the  Scott  tract.  The 
Hamilton  plat  was  called  "East  Chenoa."  The  latter  plat  became  the 
more  popular  section  of  the  town  for  residences.  In  1854,  J.  B.  Lenney, 
then  living  in  Pennsylvania,  was  informed  by  friends  living  along  the 
Mackinaw  river  that  there  was  a  good  site  for  a  town  at  the  new  railroad 


92  History  of  McLean  County 

crossing.  He  sent  his  brother-in-law,  John  Bush,  to  erect  a  building  there 
for  store  and  shop,  but  after  arrival  Bush  was  dissuaded  from  building. 
Next  year  Mr.  Lenney  himself  arrived  and  put  up  the  building  which 
became  known  as  the  Farmers'  Store,  west  of  the  Alton  and  south  of  the 
T.  P.  &  W.  tracks.  Mr.  Bush  erected  a  building  for  a  hotel  known  as  the 
Bush  House,  and  Mr.  Lenney  put  up  a  residence  in  "East  Chenoa."  John 
M.  Bryant  built  the  "National  Hotel"  in  1856.  The  first  drug  store  was 
built  back  of  the  Bush  House  in  1857  by  Dr.  Stevenson,  the  first  practic- 
ing physician.  In  the  same  year  George  Lounsberry  built  a  blacksmith 
shop  and  he  with  Louis  Ziegler  erected  a  wagon  shop.  The  first  depot 
was  built  on  the  Wye,  some  distance  north  of  the  present  one,  and  occu- 
pied by  Samuel  Emery  as  a  hotel  along  with  the  station  uses.  But  it 
caught  fire  while  the  first  meal  was  being  prepared  and  burned  down. 
The  town  was  organized  in  Aug.,  1864,  and  elected  J.  B.  Lenney  as  presi- 
dent, Thomas  Sandham  as  clerk,  and  R.  C.  Rollins  as  treasurer.  The 
town's  charter  of  1868  forbade  sale  of  liquors  within  the  village,  but  in 
1873,  the  place  was  incorporated  under  the  general  law  for  towns  and 
villages,  which  permitted  saloons,  resulting  in  Chenoa  having  saloons  for 
many  years  when  other  towns  of  the  county  were  without  them.  The 
first  mayor  under  the  city  corporation  was  J.  R.  Snyder.  In  fixing  the 
boundaries  of  the  town,  the  board  included  the  plats  of  both  Chenoa  as 
laid  out  on  the  Scott  land  and  East  Chenoa  on  the  Hamilton  land,  with 
the  territory  lying  between.  The  election  on  organization  as  a  city  was 
held  Aug.  5,  1873,  with  150  votes  cast  for  it  and  18  against.  Chenoa  has 
many  churches.  The  Presbyterians  organized  a  congregation  in  1860, 
the  Catholics  in  1863,  and  the  Methodists  built  a  church  in  1867.  A  Con- 
gregational church  was  organized  July  21,  1867.  The  Masons  formed  a 
lodge  in  Chenoa  in  1859,  and  The  Times  was  started  as  the  first  news- 
paper in  1867  by  Silas  P.  Dryer  and  James  McMurtrie.  Chenoa  now  has 
a  population  of  2,000,  has  many  good  business  buildings,  a  fine  school 
house,  many  blocks  of  paved  streets,  a  modern  brick  railroad  station  and 
one  newspaper,  the  Times-Clipper,  edited  by  W.  H.  Hawthorne. 

The  township  of  Chenoa  formerly  comprised  the  territory  now  in- 
cluded in  Yates  Township,  which  was  later  separated  and  formed  a  sepa- 
rate organization.  Being  located  within  a  mile  of  the  Livingston  County 
line,  much  of  the  trade  of  Chenoa  is  drawn  from  Livingston.  The  farms 
were  taken  up  in  large  tracts  in  the  early  days,  and  even  yet  much  of  the 


History  of  McLean  County  93 

land  is  farmed  by  tenants  rather  than  by  owners.  The  estate  of  Mat- 
thew T.  Scott  still  owns  a  large  tract  of  land,  Mr.  Scott  having  left  it  to 
his  widow,  Mrs.  Julia  G.  Scott,  who  died  in  1923. 

Chenoa  at  present  is  a  modern  little  city,  having  much  pavement, 
good  schools  and  other  advantages.  It  is  on  the  main  line  of  the  Illini 
trail  state  hard  road.  It  has  several  churches  and  one  newspaper  con- 
ducted by  W.  H.  Hawthorne.  The  Roman  Catholic  church  was  built  in 
1869,  the  Baptist  church  founded  in  1866  and  the  Methodist  church  the 
same  year.  One  of  the  strongest  Congregationalist  churches  in  the 
county  existed  there  for  many  years,  and  there  was  a  Presbyterian  church 
also.  Chenoa  has  suffered  much  from  fires,  having  been  swept  by  sev- 
eral which  were  very  destructive. 

Chenoa  adopted  the  commission  form  of  city  government  in  1916, 
and  in  April,  1917,  held  its  first  election  for  commissioners.  Park  C.  Gil- 
lespie was  elected  mayor  over  John  H.  Ketcham,  and  the  commissioners 
elected  were  W.  A.  Chapman,  C.  F.  Churchill,  S.  T.  King  and  L.  J.  Schultz. 
The  second  election  for  mayor  and  commissioners  was  held  in  1919,  when 
the  following  were  elected:  Mayor,  W.  A.  Chapman;  commissioners, 
Jacob  Balbach,  B.  F.  Elfrink,  L.  L.  Silliman  and  T.  W.  Weatherwax.  In 
the  quadrennial  election  of  1923,  Mayor  Chapman  was  re-elected,  and 
Messrs.  Balbach,  Silliman,  Elfrink  and  Weatherwax  were  also  chosen 
again.  The  city  clerk  in  1923  is  F.  M.  Power,  the  treasurer  V.  L.  Nickel, 
and  the  police  magistrate  is  M.  F.  Quinn.  The  1923  supervisor  for  Che- 
noa was  V.  L.  Nickel. 

Cropsey  Township. — Col.  A.  J.  Cropsey  came  to  this  county  in  1854 
from  Joliet  and  settled  in  the  northeasternmost  part,  which  was-  named 
Cropsey  Township  in  his  honor.  It  was  nine  miles  by  six,  in  1877,  the  six 
miles  to  the  south  was  cut  off  and  named  Anchor  township,  leaving 
Cropsey  only  half  a  township  in  extent.  After  a  short  residence  in  Crop- 
sey, Col.  Cropsey  moved  to  Fairbury,  where  he  became  an  influential 
citizen  and  was  elected  to  the  Legislature.  In  the  Civil  War  he  became 
major  of  the  129  Illinois  regiment,  which  was  made  up  in  Livingston 
County.  However,  many  of  the  enlisted  boys  were  from  McLean  County. 
Being  far  removed  from  the  county  seat,  the  people  of  Cropsey  in  1858 
sought  connection  with  Ford  County,  but  the  project  was  voted  down 
by  the  voters  of  other  sections  of  McLean  County.     In  the  year  1877 


94  History  of  McLean  County 

the  Illinois  Central  railroad  projected  a  branch  from  Kankakee  to  Bloom- 
ington  which  should  pass  through  Cropsey  township.  For  this  road  the 
people  gave  liberally,  Daniel  B.  Stewart  donating  $10,000  for  the  ten 
miles  in  McLean  County.  The  first  extension  of  the  Kankakee  line  in  Mc- 
Lean County  was  to  Colfax,  giving  both  Cropsey  and  Anchor  a  road ;  then 
the  line  was  later  extended  to  Bloomington.  This  was  the  first  connection 
by  railroad  between  the  county  seat  and  the  neighborhoods  to  the  extreme 
northeast  of  the  county.  At  one  time  a  village  named  Potosi  was  started  on 
the  line  between  McLean  and  Livingston  counties,  but  twenty  years  after- 
ward, when  the  railroad  passed  some  miles  away,  it  dwindled  and  died. 
The  village  of  Cropsey  is  almost  on  the  county  line,  and  draws  as  muf.h 
trade  from  Livingston  and  Ford  as  from  McLean. 

Dale  Township. — This  township  was  settled  among  the  first  in  the 
county,  along  about  1827  or  '28.  Robert  H.  Johnson  was  among  the 
early  settlers,  and  William  Beeler  came  to  this  section  about  1830.  There 
were  still  many  Indians  in  the  vicinity  when  Beeler  settled  here.  This 
township  was  blessed  with  much  timber,  Twin  Grove  being  one  of  the 
larger  tracts,  located  on  the  northern  border;  Hougham's  Grove,  or  Har- 
ley's  Grove  in  the  center,  and  the  west  point  of  Blooming  Grove  in  the 
eastern.  Dr.  Isaac  Baker  and  Deacon  James  Tomkins  of  New  York  were 
among  the  first  settlers  on  the  prairie  lands.  Sugar  Creek  and  its 
branches  furnished  the  water  courses  of  the  township.  A  water  mill  for 
grinding  corn  was  built  by  Abraham  Harley  about  1847  on  section  47, 
which  ran  for  several  years.  There  are  two  unincorporated  villages  in 
the  township,  Shirley  and  Covell.  Shirley  has  two  elevators,  a  school 
house,  -two  churches,  stores  and  several  residences.  Covell  has  a  union 
church,  a  school  house,  stores  and  some  residences.  A  Methodist  church 
which  stood  on  section  2  was  blown  down  in  the  big  storm  of  1902. 

Danvers  Township. — This  township  contains  more  territory  than 
the  ordinary  one,  having  45  square  miles.  It  is  located  in  the  north- 
west part  of  the  county,  containing  much  prairie  land  and  over  10,000 
acres  of  timber,  of  which  Stout's  Grove  is  the  most  important  part. 
The  timber  attracted  early  settlers,  and  Ephraim  Stout  came  here  from 
Tennessee  in  1825,  being  followed  in  1827  by  Matthew  Robb,  Robert 
McClure  and  Peyton  Mitchell,  Jonathan  Hodges  and  his  sons,  U.  S.  and 
W.  F.  Hodges.     Five  years  later  Stout  built  a  mill,  which  was  a  head- 


History  of  McLean  County  95 

quarters  for  farmers  for  many  miles  during  several  years.  Wheat  was 
a  staple  crop  of  the  farmers  of  this  section  for  many  years,  and  is 
still  raised  to  some  extent,  but  not  so  profitably.  The  old  state  road  from 
Danville  to  Peoria  passed  through  Danvers,  and  much  east  and  west 
travel  went  that  way.  An  early  tavern  was  Wayside  Inn,  located  in  the 
west  part  of  the  township  and  kept  by  Alvin  Goodenough.  The  first  school 
was  a  private  one  taught  by  Archibald  Johnson  in  1832-33.  The  second 
teacher  was  Lyman  Porter  and  the  third  Hosea  Stout,  who  was  convert- 
ed to  Mormonism  and  went  to  Nauvoo  and  became  an  apostle.  Matthew 
Robb  acted  as  school  treasurer  and  justice  of  the  peace.  He  was  also 
elected  to  the  legislature.  James  Wilson  was  the  first  supervisor  from 
Danvers  township.  The  present  supervisor  is  Chester  R.  Ewins,  who 
served  many  years  and  was  chairman  of  the  board  for  a  time.  There 
have  been  many  religious  organizations  in  Danvers,  the  Friends,  Cum- 
berland Presbyterians,  United  Brethren,  Methodists,  Congregationalists, 
Christians,  Baptists  and  Mennonites  being  represented.  The  fifth  house 
built  in  the  settlement  was  erected  by  Thomas  Walker  for  a  church, 
building  it  of  hewn  logs.  Many  earlier  religious  bodies  have  disappeared. 
The  Friends  moved  away,  leaving  no  organization.  Lutherans  and  Menno- 
nites have  prosperous  organizations.  Danvers  had  honorable  records  in 
all  the  wars,  from  the  Mexican  War  to  the  World  War.  George  H.  Fifer, 
a  brother  of  Governor  Fifer,  who  went  from  Danvers  in  the  Civil  war, 
was  killed  in  battle  in  Texas.  Several  young  men  from  Danvers  lost 
their  lives  in  the  Word  war. 

The  village  of  Danvers,  laid  out  in  February,  1836,  was  first  called 
Concord,  for  the  sake  of  Israel  W.  Hall,  who  came  from  Concord,  N.  H. 
The  name  was  changed  to  Danvers  in  1861.  The  first  postoffice  was 
called  Stout's  Grove,  founded  in  1848.  Danvers  is  now  a  progressive  and 
modern  little  city.  It  has  a  water  works  deriving  its  supply  from  wells; 
a  public  library,  two  banks,  three  elevators,  an  electric  interurban  road 
and  steam  road,  and  for  years  the  Willow  Park  sanitarium,  a  drink  and 
drug  cure,  was  run  by  Dr.  Parkhurst.  The  Danvers  Independent  is  a  weekly 
newspaper.    The  village  population  is  about  650. 

There  are  lodges  of  the  Masons  and  Modern  Woodmen  in  Danvers, 
and  a  post  of  the  American  Legion.  The  Danvers  club  is  a  progressive 
social  organization.  The  schools  are  up-to-date,  and  live  parent-teachers' 
association  keeps  the  women  in  touch  with  the  schools.     Five  churches 


96  History  of  McLean  County 

are  functioning,  the  Presbyterian,  Zion  Lutheran,  Mennonite,  Methodist 
and  Baptist.     Danvers  has  no  pavement,  but  the  streets  are  well  oiled. 

Dawson  Township. — This  township  was  named  in  honor  of  John 
Wells  Dawson,  one  of  the  two  early  settlers  of  Blooming  Grove,  who 
made  his  home  for  a  time  in  1826  in  a  site  that  is  a  part  of  the  area  of 
the  township.  The  Dawson  home  was  on  the  land  afterwards  occupied 
by  John  Wirt,  near  where  the  Old  Settlers  picnic  was  held  for  many  years. 
There  were  many  Indians  in  the  vicinity  when  Dawson  settled  there.  In 
fact,  they  had  a  small  village  near  his  home,  having  moved  from  the  older 
site  at  Old  Town  timber.  The  Indians  remained  in  this  vicinity  for  a 
few  years,  when  they  moved  to  Livingston  county.  Other  settlers  joined 
Dawson  in  1827  and  1829  in  the  persons  of  William  Goodheart  and  Jesse 
Frankeberger,  the  latter  a  local  preacher.  Dawson  was  but  one  of  the 
several  townships  which  were  formed  from  the  settlements  grouped  about 
Old  Town  timber,  a  body  of  12,600  acres  of  fine  grove.  There  were  4,600 
acres  in  Dawson,  6,620  acres  in  Old  Town,  about  250  acres  in  West,  320 
acres  in  Arrowsmith,  300  acres  in  Downs  and  600  acres  in  Empire.  The 
Indians  naturally  grew  attached  to  this  fine  grove,  and  great  was  their 
grief  when  they  finally  departed.  The  late  Hon.  Simeon  H.  Wist  donated 
to  the  county  20  acres  of  the  timber  which  he  owned  in  West  Township, 
to  be  a  perpetual  county  park.  About  one-fourth  of  the  total  area  of 
Dawson  Township  was  originally  in  timber,  much  of  it  being  very  wet 
and  needing  drainage  to  make  it  good  farming  land.  The  headwaters 
of  the  Sangamon  River  and  Money  Creek  were  in  this  township. 

When  a  railroad  was  proposed  to  be  run  through  this  region  from 
Bloomington  east,  many  of  the  townships  voted  bonds  to  aid  in  its  con- 
struction, and  of  this  sort  of  aid  Dawson  voted  $30,000.  The  road  was 
first  called  Lafayette  &  Bloomington,  later  the  Lake  Erie,  and  finally 
absorbed  as  part  of  the  Nickel  Plate  system.  Two  stations  were  located 
on  this  road  in  Dawson  Township,  one  in  the  east  called  Ellsworth,  the 
other  to  the  west  called  Padua.  The  township  was  also  called  Padua  at 
first,  but  the  board  of  supervisors  in  1891  changed  the  name  of  the  town- 
ship to  Dawson  on  request  of  the  citizens.  Ellsworth  was  named  for 
Oliver  Ellsworth,  who  with  Jonathan  Cheney  and  A.  B.  Ives  owned  the 
land  on  which  the  town  was  located.  Cheney  and  Ives  were  directors  in 
the  new  railroad.     The  station  of  Holder,  just  across  the  line  in  Old 


KICKAPOO    INDIAN    FORT    MARKER    NEAR    ARROWSMITH. 


<*  l£ 


History  of  McLean  County  97 

Town,  was  named  for'  Charles  W.  Holder  of  Bloomington,  another  direc- 
tor in  the  railroad.  At  one  time  there  was  a  settlement  called  Stump- 
town  south  of  Ellsworth,  where  a  mill  had  been  erected  in  the  timber;  it 
disappeared  after  the  railroad  went  through.  A  village  settled  largely 
by  Quakers  was  named  Benjaminville,  in  the  northwest  corner  of  the 
township,  but  the  station  of  Holder  attracted  nearly  all  the  business  that 
Benjaminville  formerly  enjoyed.  Annual  meetings  are  still  held  at  the 
Quaker  church  at  Benjaminville.  On  July  11,  1885,  there  was  an  Old 
Settlers  association  formed  by  a  body  of  citizens  assembled  in  Shinkle's 
hall  in  Ellsworth,  and  for  25  years  an  annual  meeting  and  picnic  was 
held  at  Betzer  park,  south  of  Ellsworth.  The  first  president  was  Mark 
Banks,  who  served  till  1902,  when  he  retired.  He  died  in  1907.  The  or- 
ganization was  incorporated  in  1898,  the  incorporators  being  Mark  Banks, 
William  Van  Gundy,  H.  R.  Arrowsmith,  C  .H.  Whitaker,  and  G.  W.  Bane. 
The  continued  interest  in  the  picnic  was  remarkable,  the  attendance 
often  reaching  from  5,000  to  8,000.  In  the  years  of  its  prosperity,  many 
notables  addressed  the  meetings,  including  Judge  Weldon,  Gen.  McCler- 
nand,  Hon.  T.  C.  Kerrick,  President  David  Falmley,  Gov.  Joseph  W.  Fi- 
fer,  Hon.  J.  H.  Rowell,  Judge  Thomas  F.  Tipton,  Rev.  J.  J.  Burke,  Hon. 
John  A.  Sterling,  Judge  Roland  A.  Russell,  L.  H.  Kerrick,  I.  N.  Phillips, 
Dr.  Richard  Edwards,  Dr.  A.  E.  Stewart,  Hon.  Simeon  H.  West,  and  many 
others.  Judge  Tipton  served  as  president  of  the  day  from  1891  until 
his  death.  On  Aug.  8,  1901,  the  McLean  County  Historical  Society  met 
with  the  Old  Settlers  association  and  the  papers  on  this  occasion  were 
of  great  historical  value,  recounting  the  early  history  of  that  region. 
They  have  all  been  preserved  in  the  archives  of  the  Historical  society, 
and  will  some  day  be  published,  no  doubt.  The  paper  of  Simeon  H.  West 
on  the  history  of  Old  Town  Timber  was  the  best  ever  given  on  that  sub- 
ject. The  farming  lands  of  Dawson  Township  are  not  so  large  in  extent 
nor  so  rich  in  soil  as  some  other  townships,  but  values  have  gradually 
increased  with  the  years. 

Downs  Township.— When  township  organization  was  perfected  in 
1858,  this  township  was  named  Savanna,  but  owing  to  there  being  an- 
other township  of  that  name  in  the  state,  the  name  was  changed  to 
Downs  in  honor  of  Lawson  Downs,  who  settled  in  1829  at  a  tract  of  tim- 
ber known  as  Diamond  Grove,  part  of  this  township.  There  were  1,300 
(5) 


98  History  of  McLean  County 

acres  of  timber  land  in  the  county  originally.  Downs  served  under  Cap- 
tain Covell  in  the  Black  Hawk  war  shortly  after  he  settled  here.  Henry 
Jacoby  became  one  of  the  first  neighbors  of  Downs.  Thomas  Toverca,  a 
preacher,  settled  here  in  1830  and  John  Price  came  in  1836.  The  village 
of  Downs  as  first  laid  out  was  called  Priceville,  but  afterward  changed 
to  Downs.  Sylvester  Peasley  was  an  early  settler  who  left  his  mark  upon 
the  community.  He  began  farming  in  a  crude  way  in  1837,  breaking  the 
ground  with  an  iron  plow  drawn  by  oxen.  He  raised  cattle  and  razor- 
back  hogs,  which  he  drove  to  market  in  Chicago.  He  was  elected  super- 
visor for  15  years,  and  served  as  chairman  of  the  board  two  years.  John 
Cusey  was  another  influential  early  settler  who  came  here  in  1836.  He 
was  employed  by  Jesse  Funk  in  the  cattle  business.  He  was  a  republican, 
an  anti-slavery  man  and  was  elected  state  senator.  Several  saw  mills 
were  erected  in  Downs  Township  along  the  Kickapoo  Creek,  but  they 
thrived  awhile  then  died  out.  Sevier  Stringfield  built  a  grist  mill  in  1831, 
using  stones  picked  up  from  the  land.  In  1840  John  Rice  built  another 
mill.  The  village  of  Downs  was  laid  out  in  1870  by  P.  B.  Price.  It  thrived 
from  the  first,  and  is  one  of  the  prosperous  villages  in  the  county.  It 
was  incorporated  about  ten  years  ago. 

Dry  Grove  Township. — This  is  one  of  the  few  townships  of  the 
county  which  has  no  town  or  village.  Its  name  is  taken  from  the  grove 
of  timber  which  is  located  in  the  southwestern  part.  William  McCul- 
lough  and  his  son,  Peter,  first  came  to  the  neighborhood  in  1826.  The  son 
of  Peter  McCullough,  William  McCullough,  became  circuit  clerk  and 
sheriff.  He  served  in  the  Black  Hawk  war  in  his  youth,  and  at  the  time 
of  the  Civil  War  was  lieutenant  colonel  of  the  Fourth  Illinois  cavalry, 
being  killed  in  battle  at  Coffeeville,  Miss.,  on  Dec.  5,  1862.  Henry  Van 
Syckle  came  in  1828  and  was  afterward  one  of  the  county  commissioners. 
James  Garton  and  Wilton  Williams  were  among  the  first  teachers  who 
conducted  schools  in  this  township.  Matthew  Harbord  built  the  first 
mill,  which  ran  with  horse  power,  and  known  as  the  "corn  cracker"  va- 
riety. A  Mr.  King  built  another  mill  which  ground  flour  for  years,  and 
which  was  later  abandoned  and  used  for  a  barn,  which  is  still  standing. 
Stephen  Webb,  one  of  the  earliest  settlers  of  this  vicinity,  came  from 
Tennessee  in  1827  with  William  McCord,  George  and  Jacob  Hinshaw. 
Stephen  Webb  was  one  of  the  characters  of   the   settlement,   tall   and 


History  of  McLean  County  99 

straight,  being  over  six  feet  in  height.     In  later  years  his  hair  and  beard 
were  white.    He  was  full  of  cheerfulness  and  optimism. 

Empire  Township. — Ever  since  the  settlement  of  the  county,  Empire 
has  had  a  leading  part  in  its  history.  It  formed  a  desirable  place  for  first 
settlers,  being  provided  with  timber,  water  and  rich  prairie  land.  John 
Buckles  came  to  this  section  in  1827  and  settled  at  the  grove  which  bears 
his  name.  This  and  other  groves  in  the  township  comprise  8,700  acres. 
Buckles  and  his  family  of  thirteen  children  always  bore  a  leading  part 
in  the  township's  history.  Michael  Dickerson  came  in  1830.  He  had  two 
sons,  Henry  and  Frank,  who  were  leading  citizens.  The  Greenman  fam- 
ily settled  at  Blooming  Grove  in  1829  and  afterward  removed  to  Buckles 
Grove.  The  Crumbaughs  came  in  1830.  Henry  Crumbaugh  kept  a  noted 
pack  of  hounds.  David  Crumbaugh  was  another  well-known  member  of 
the  family.  Squire  Hiram  Buck  was  a  settler  in  1837  and  was  the  first 
postmaster  at  Leroy.  He  also  served  as  justice  of  the  peace  for  eighteen 
years  and  was  one  of  the  members  of  the  county  court  in  the  '50's.  Mah- 
lon  Bishop  came  to  Buckles  Grove  in  1835  and  was  elected  to  the  legisla- 
ture in  1837.  He  was  one  of  the  first  known  "farmer  candidates."  A 
school  was  built  in  1837,  known  as  the  Clearwater  School,  of  which  Will- 
iam Johnson  was  the  first  teacher. 

Empire  Township  was  early  the  home  of  the  most  prosperous  farm- 
ers and  cattle  raisers  of  the  county.  There  was  timber  for  building,  water 
for  the  stock  and  rich  prairie  lands  for  grazing.  The  earliest  mill  in  this 
township  was  built  in  1835,  and  shortly  afterward  there  were  mills  built 
on  Salt  Creek  by  David  Phillips  and  Isaac  Williamson.  They  were  crude 
affairs,  but  helped  to  grind  the  grain  of  the  settlers. 

A  new  era  dawned  for  the  township  on  the  construction  of  the  first 
railroad,  the  Danville,  Urbana,  Bloomington  &  Pekin,  later  the  Big  Four 
and  now  part  of  the  Ntcker-Ptete/  The  township  donated  $75,000  toward 
the  construction  of  the  road,  and  got  two  stations,  Leroy  and  Empire. 
Later  a  branch  of  the  Illinois  Central  was  built  from  Leroy  to  Rantoul 
and  West  Lebanon,  Ind. 

Asahel  Gridley  and  Merritt  Covell  laid  out  the  village  of  Leroy  in 
1835,  but  owing  to  hard  times  it  made  slow  progress  the  first  few  years. 
In  1838  Edgar  Concklin  built  a  frame  store  and  next  year  a  post  route 
was  established  with  Hiram  Buck  as  postmaster.     The  route  ran  from 


t 


100  History  of  McLean  County 

Danville  to  Pekin  via  Leroy  and  Bloomington.  John  W.  Badderly  had 
started  a  town  called  Monroe  a  mile  south  of  Leroy,  but  moved  to  Leroy 
when  that  place  was  laid  out.  Badderly  and  Amos  Neal  were  Leroy's 
first  merchants.  Other  early  merchants  were  Baker  &  Greenman,  L.  H. 
and  B.  F.  Parke,  E.  L.  Morehouse  &  Son,  and  T.  J.  Barnett.  Joseph  Kee- 
nan  was  merchant,  farmer  and  banker.  The  first  church  was  established 
about  1830  by  James  Latta.  In  1838  the  Methodists  built  a  church  on  a 
lot  given  them  by  Edward  Concklin.  In  1902  the  Methodists  built  their 
present  large  and  modern  church.  The  Christian  church  was  organized 
in  1888.  Universalists  have  carried  on  services  for  many  years  and 
erected  a  chapel.  The  Cumberland  Presbyterians  organized  a  congrega- 
tion very  early  and  in  1898  erected  a  brick  church,  also  conducting  the 
Leroy  Seminary  for  higher  learning  for  some  years.  The  Spiritualists 
had  a  flourishing  congregation  at  one  time,  and  the  late  J.  T.  Crumbaugh 
left  them  an  endowment  for  a  church  which  is  to  be  built  at  some  time  in 
the  future.  In  1904,  on  April  22,  the  McLean  County  Historical  Society 
sponsored  a  celebration  of  the  75th  anniversary  of  the  settlement  of 
Buckles  Grove,  at  which  papers  recounting  all  the  early  history  of  Em- 
pire Township  were  read  by  Simeon  H.  West,  Thomas  L.  Buck,  John 
McConnell,  George  Hedrick,  Mrs.  J.  V.  Smith,  Mrs.  Adam  Murray,  Mrs. 
E.  B.  Young,  Mrs.  John  McConnell,  Mrs.  A.  L.  Rike,  John  M.  Harper,  Nel- 
son G.  Humphrey,  J.  R.  Covey,  Charles  Williams,  Joseph  Keenan,  S.  D. 
Baker,  Rev.  W.  E.  Leavitt,  A.  B.  Conkling.  Leroy  had  several  grist  and  saw 
mills  in  its  day,  the  owners  of  these  being  Elisha  Gibbs,  and  Buckles  & 
Farmer.  The  first  burned  down  and  the  second  was  eventually  dismantled. 
Leroy  has  always  had  a  good  school  system.  It  now  has  one  of  the  best 
township  high  schools  in  the  county.  The  Eugene  Field  school  houses  the 
grades.  Leroy  has  one  large  factory,  a  branch  of  the  Bloomington  Canning 
Company,  which  is  a  busy  place  in  certain  seasons.  It  has  one  newspaper, 
the  Journal,  run  by  Melvin  A.  Cline.  There  are  all  kinds  of  retail  stores. 
Leroy  is  the  third  largest  town  in  the  county,  having  a  population  of 
about  1,700. 

Modern  Leroy  has  some  two  miles  of  fine  paved  streets  and  one  of 
the  best  city  water  plants  in  the  state  for  a  place  of  its  size.  Just  at  the 
west  end  of  the  main  business  section  is  a  pretty  little  park  and  foun- 
tain, the  gift  of  Simeon  West,  a  pioneer.  The  city  has  several  fine 
churches,  flourishing  lodges  of  Masons,  Odd  Fellows,  Knights  of  Pythias, 


History  of  McLean  County  101 

Red  Men,  Modern  Woodmen,  Eastern  Star,  Rebekahs,  and  a  large  post  of 
American  Legion  named  for  Ruel  Neal.  The  churches  are  the  Presby- 
terian, Christian,  Methodist,  and  Universalist.  Leroy  is  one  of  the  few 
places  of  its  kind  which  maintains  a  Commercial  Club,  it  being  ten  years 
old  and  having  a  record  of  much  activity.  There  is  a  women's  auxiliary 
to  this  club.  Fine  club  rooms  are  kept  up.  The  women  of  the  city 
maintain  an  active  Parent-Teachers'  Association  for  co-operation  with 
the  schools.  Other  organizations  of  women  are  the  Woman's  Relief  Corps 
and  the  Garden  Club,  besides  several  strictly  social  and  literary  bodies. 
There  is  a  Country  Club  in  Leroy,  with  a  fine  golf  course  and  club  house. 
Some  day  the  city  will  enjoy  a  public  library  as  a  gift  from  the  Crum- 
baugh  estate.    They  have  a  splendid  new  high  school  building. 

The  Leroy  fair  is  one  of  the  best  managed  and  most  prosperous  pub- 
lic enterprises  of  its  kind  to  be  found  anywhere.  It  has  continued  for 
many  years  and  drew  great  crowds  for  a  whole  week  by  its  agricultural 
exhibits  and  entertainment  features. 


CHAPTER  V. 


TOWNSHIPS  AND  TOWNS,  CONTINUED. 


FUNK'S  GROVE — GRIDLEY— HUDSON — LAWNDALE— LEXINGTON — MARTIN — MONEY 
CREEK  —  MOUNT  HOPE  —  NORMAL  —  OLD  TOWN  —  RANDOLPH  —  TOWANDA  — 
WEST — WHITE  OAK — YATES. 

Funk's  Grove  Township. — Taking  the  name  of  the  earliest  and  most 
prominent  family  of  settlers,  this  township  is  one  of  the  most  noted 
farming  tracts  in  McLean  County.  Isaac  and  Abraham  Funk  came  to 
this  county  in  1824,  and  after  looking  at  the  conditions  at  Blooming 
Grove  and  Old  Town  Timber,  they  decided  to  locate  at  the  grove  to  the 
west,  which  afterward  took  their  name.  William  Brock  came  with  them 
from  Ohio,  and  he  with  the  Funks  set  to  work  in  the  business  of  raising 
cattle.  Brock  built  his  cabin  on  Section  30  and  the  Funks  built  theirs  on 
Section  16.  Having  built  up  a  good  business  in  cattle,  Brock  was. driving 
a  lot  to  the  market  in  Ohio,  when  he  was  taken  sick  at  the  home  of  John 
Dawson  in  Old  Town,  where  he  died  of  typhoid  fever.  The  first  spring 
the  Funks  were  here  they  planted  a  crop  and  cleared  off  a  tract  in  the 
edge  of  the  grove,  meanwhile  building  a  house  such  as  they  could  from 
poles  and  bark  of  the  linden  trees,  12  by  14  feet.  One  window  was  put 
in  and  a  puncheon  floor  laid.  Eighteen  persons  lived  in  this  cabin  in  the 
winter  of  1824-25.  The  cabin  stood  till  1832,  when  it  was  burned  down. 
Isaac  Funk  was  born  in  Kentucky  Nov.  14,  1797.  The  family  moved  to 
Ohio  in  1807  and  from  there  to  McLean  County  in  1824.  Isaac  Funk  had 
little  education,  but  he  was  a  man  of  great  practical  knowledge,  being 
wise  in  matters  of  handling  cattle.  He  went  into  debt  $2,000,  a  great 
sum  for  those  times,  and  acquired  his  first  land.  Every  dollar  he  could 
get  he  invested  in  more  land,  until  he  acquired  20,000  acres.     He  was 

102 


History  of  McLean  County  103 

married  to  Cassandra  Sharp  in  1826,  and  they  had  eight  children.  Land 
values  greatly  increased  with  the  coming  of  the  Illinois  Central  railroad, 
and  shortly  after  that  time  Mr.  Funk  added  12,000  acres  to  his  holdings, 
for  which  he  contracted  debts  of  $80,000.  He  fed  and  marketed  large 
numbers  of  cattle  and  hogs,  and  became  known  far  and  wide  as  the  larg- 
est dealer  of  that  kind  in  Central  Illinois. 

Mr.  Funk  took  an  interest  in  politics  and  was  a  man  of  positive  con- 
victions. He  was  a  Whig  for  years,  then  joined  the  republican  party. 
He  was  a  friend  of  Abraham  Lincoln,  and  in  the  campaign  of  1860  he 
appeared  in  a  Lincoln  parade  in  Bloomington  driving  twelve  yoke  of  oxen 
hitched  to  a  wagon  on  which  was  a  "float"  representing  the  rail  splitter. 
In  1862  he  was  elected  to  the  state  senate,  and  finding  there  much  senti- 
ment in  opposition  to  the  Lincoln  and  union  war  policy,  he  made  a  thrill- 
ing speech  denouncing  the  opponents  of  Lincoln  as  traitors.  It  thrilled 
the  whole  state  by  its  vigor  and  directness.  In  the  winter  of  1865  Mr. 
Funk  came  home,  was  taken  sick  and  died  on  January  29.  His  wife  died 
the  next  day. 

The  Funk  lands  were  amicably  divided  among  his  sons  after  his 
death,  and  they  remain  largely  in  the  hands  of  the  family  to  this  day, 
the  third  and  fourth  generation  being  now  in  charge.  The  lands  were 
developed  along  lines  different  from  that  of  ordinary  farms,  being  devoted 
to  "corn  breeding,"  where  new  varieties  and  better  qualities  of  seed  are 
constantly  bred,  after  the  manner  of  breeding  stock.  The  Funk  Bros. 
Seed  Company  was  the  outgrowth  of  this  kind  of  agricultural  methods, 
and  this  company  built  up  a  business  in  seed  corn  and  other  grains  which 
extends  all  over  the  country  and  to  many  foreign  lands.  Many  of  Isaac 
Funk's  sons  and  grandsons  have  attained  local  distinction  in  other  lines 
than  purely  agricultural.  Benjamin  F.  Funk,  one  of  the  sons,  was  mayor 
of  Bloomington  and  congressman,  while  his  son,  Frank  H.  Funk,  grand- 
son of  Isaac  Funk,  is  the  present  member  of  congress  from  this  the  Sev- 
enteenth district  (1923).  Another  grandson,  Eugene  D.  Funk,  was  mem- 
ber of  the  government  food  commission  during  the  World  War.  Lafay- 
ette Funk,  son  of  Isaac,  was  state  senator  for  some  time;  also  member 
of  the  board  of  supervisors  and  chairman  of  the  board  at  one  time. 

Gridley  Township. — This,  the  northwestern  township  of  the  county, 
is  the  largest  in  extent,  being  nine  miles  by  six.     Its  southern  border  is 


104  History  of  McLean  County 

along  the  Mackinaw  River  and  there  are  3,180  acres  of  timberland  in  the 
township.  The  first  settlers  came  in  1833  and  1835,  being  James  Bigger, 
Reuben  and  Taylor  Loving,  locating  in  the  Mackinaw  timber.  John  Sloan 
and  John  B.  Messer  arrived  in  1833  and  1834.  Messer  had  previously 
lived  at  Lexington  and  was  a  great  hunter.  He  had  given  names  to  Tur- 
key Creek  and  Buck  Creek  from  the  kind  of  game  he  had  found  along  the 
streams.  Loving  Creek,  in  south  Gridley  Township  was  named  for  one 
of  the  Loving  Brothers.  After  the  first  settlers  came,  Gridley  did  not 
get  many  new  inhabitants  until  along  in  the  '50's,  most  of  the  settlements 
being  along  the  edge  of  the  Mackinaw  timber.  The  Mackinaw  River  runs 
for  five  miles  through  the  township. 

The  village  of  Gridley  was  laid  out  by  Thomas  Carlyle  and  George 
W.  Kent  on  land  they  had  bought  from  General  Gridley,  and  they  conse- 
quently named  the  place  in  his  honor.  It  was  platted  in  1856,  and  the 
new  railroad,  the  Toledo,  Peoria  &  Western,  ran  its  first  train  through 
the  town  on  Feb.  28,  1857.  The  village  grew  slowly  for  some  years  owing 
to  the  backwardness  of  the  farming  country  around  it.  A  great  storm 
swept  over  the  country  May  13,  1858,  causing  much,  damage  to  timber 
and  property  of  all  kinds.  The  villages  of  Gridley  and  Chenoa  were  both 
great  sufferers.  The  first  school  house  was  built  in  the  village  in  1859. 
The  town  was  incorporated  in  1869,  the  first  trustees  being  H.  E.  Stevens, 
president;  W.  H.  Boies,  George  Juett,  D.  E.  Sloan  and  S.  L.  Martin.  A 
great  windmill  was  built  in  Gridley  in  1874  which  for  many  years  suc- 
cessfully competed  with  water  and  steam  mills  of  the  county  in  the  way 
of  making  flour  and  grinding  the  grain  of  the  farmers  for  feed  and  other 
uses.  It  was  one  of  the  notable  institutions  of  the  county  during  its  exist- 
ence, but  finally  went  out  of  business.  Gridley  has  prosperous  churches 
of  the  Methodist,  Congregationalist  and  Mennonite  denominations.  Among 
the  notable  characters  of  Gridley  for  many  years  were  the  Drum  brothers 
who  were  great  hunters,  and  made  annual  excursions  to  Arkansas,  to  the 
Rocky  Mountains  and  elsewhere  to  hunt  big  game.  Gridley  has  many 
good  stores  and  is  a  point  for  much  trading  from  northern  McLean  and 
southern  Livingston  counties. 

Hudson  Township. — The  township  and  village  of  Hudson  took  their 
names  from  Hudson,  New  York,  which  had  formerly  been  the  home  of 
some  of  the  men  who  organized  a  colony  and  entered  most  of  the  land 


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History  of  McLean  County  105 

which  comprised  this  township.  The  very  earliest  settlers  of  the  vicin- 
ity were  Bailey  Harbert,  his  son-in-law,  Richard  Gross,  and  Mosby  Har- 
bert,  who  arrived  here  probably  in  1828  or  '29.  Jesse  Havens  came  in 
1830,  from  Blooming  Grove,  and  bought  out  the  claims  of  the  earlier 
settlers.  Havens  had  been  a  soldier  of  1812  and  served  as  county  com- 
missioner after  his  settlement  in  this  county.  His  son,  Hiram  Havens, 
grew  to  be  a  leading  citizen.  David  Trimmer  was  the  first  blacksmith  of 
the  neighborhood.  The  Illinois  Land  Association,  organized  at  Jackson- 
ville, in  Feb.,  1836,  entered  large  tracts  of  land  in  this  township  in  the 
names  of  Horatio  N.  Pettit,  one  of  the  three  charter  members,  the  other 
two  being  John  Gregory  and  George  F.  Durkitt.  This  was  one  of  the 
many  colonization  schemes  which  flourished  about  that  time  as  land 
speculating  enterprises.  Each  member  paid  $235,  for  which  he  was  to 
receive  160  acres  of  land,  four  lots  in  the  town  of  Hudson  and  a  share  in 
the  net  profits  of  the  whole  scheme.  Some  timber  land  was  also  prom- 
ised to  each,  but  finding  a  limited  amount  of  timber  to  give  out,  caused 
discontent  among  members  of  the  colony.  Some  left,  but  of  those  who 
remained  there  were  Pettit  and  Gregory,  John  Magoun,  James  H.  Robin- 
son, Oliver  March,  James  and  Joseph  Gildersleeve,  Jacob  Burtis  and  Sam- 
uel P.  Cox.  The  colony  had  got  a  good  start  when  the  panic  of  1837  hit 
it,  and  things  were  at  a  standstill  until  about  1850.  Among  the  buildings 
erected  at  the  start  was  a  frame  structure  used  as  school  house  and 
church.  The  first  preacher  was  John  Dunham,  a  United  Brethren  mis- 
sionary. Rev.  James  Latta  organized  the  first  Methodist  church.  The 
German  Baptists  or  Dunkards  also  had  a  congregation  here.  The  first 
man  buried  in  the  township  was  Solomon  Lewis,  a  soldier  of  Captain 
Brown's  company  en  route  from  Danville  to  the  Black  Hawk  war.  The 
company  camped  here,  Lewis  was  taken  sick  and  died  at  the  house  of 
Jesse  Havens.  The  houses  built  by  the  Hudson  colonists  were  of  frame, 
in  contrast  to  log  houses  erected  in  other  settlements.  This  required 
sawed  lumber,  and  a  saw  mill  was  among  the  first  structures  erected. 
J.  Moats  erected  such  a  mill  in  1836,  and  George  Mason  built  a  grist  mill 
on  the  Mackinaw.  Among  the  earlier  settlers  aside  from  those  compos- 
ing the  colony,  were  James  Smith,  who  removed  here  from  Smith's  Grove 
in  Towanda  Township,  Benjamin  Wheeler,  the  Hinthorns,  Elijah  Priest, 
Isaac  Messer  and  Isaac  Turnipseed. 


106  History  of  McLean  County 

The  village  of  Hudson  was  laid  out  Aug.  13,  1836,  by  Horatio  Pettit. 
The  main  street  was  laid  out  120  feet  broad,  and  other  streets  80  feet 
wide.  When  the  Illinois  Central  Railroad  was  built  it  passed  through  the 
township  and  the  village,  going  along  one  side  of  the  main  street,  or 
"Broadway."  A  celebration  was  held  at  Hudson  under  auspices  of  the 
McLean  County  Historical  Society,  at  which  time  a  boulder  was  set  mark- 
ing the  site  of  the  last  camping  ground  of  the  Pottawatomie  Indians  in 
that  vicinity.  It  stands  just  at  the  turn  of  the  road  in  front  of  F.  A. 
Carrothers'  residence.    Mrs.  Carrothers  was  a  Havens. 

Lawndale  Township  is  made  up  of  rich  prairie  lands  and  contains 
many  excellent  farms.  The  settlement  of  the  township  took  place  between 
1851  and  1854,  when  emigrants  bought  lands  from  the  government.  Hon. 
John  Cassedy,  one  of  the  early  settlers  and  members  of  the  Legislature, 
was  the  one  who  suggested  the  name,  the  land  suggesting  to  his  mind 
a  great  lawn.  Cassedy  was  a  man  of  great  stature  and  equally  great 
brain,  a  marked  character  of  his  time  and  station.  Henline  Creek,  which 
crosses  the  township  and  flows  into  the  Mackinaw,  was  named  for  John 
Henline,  who  settled  here  in  1828.  He  with  his  three  sons,  David,  Will- 
iam and  Martin,  were  the  only  settlers  living  here  at  the  time  of  the  deep 
snow.  By  the  year  1832,  when  the  Black  Hawk  war  broke  put,  there  were 
many  settlers  living  in  Lawndale,  Martin  and  Lexington  townships.  They 
banded  together  and  built  a  stockade  and  block  house  for  mutual  protec- 
tion against  roving  bands  of  hostile  Indians.  Jacob  Spawr,  an  early  set- 
tler, says  this  stockade  was  about  six  rods  long  and  four  rods  wide.  Mc- 
Lean County  at  that  time  extended  beyond  the  present  site  of  Pontiac, 
and  was  almost  on  the  Indian  frontier.  Some  of  the  settlers  being  in  ter- 
ror of  the  unknown  extent  and  ferocity  of  the  Indians,  fled  the  country 
and  went  back  east.  The  only  known  Indian  band  in  this  immediate 
vicinity  at  that  time  were  the  "praying  Indians"  of  the  Kickapoo  tribe, 
then  located  at  Oliver's  Grove  in  what  is  now  Livingston  County.  This 
fear  of  them  caused  the  government  to  remove  them  west  of  the  Mis- 
sissippi River  in  September  of  that  year.  This  panic  over  supposed  In- 
dian dangers  probably  lost  the  county  many  permanent  residents  at  that 
time,  some  leaving  never  to  return. 

While  Lawndale  Township  contains  no  town  or  village,  the  town  of 
Colfax  is  within  a  half  mile  of  the  township  line  and  forms  the  trading 


History  of  McLean  County  107 

center  for  Lawndale  residents.     Anchor  and  Lexington  also  furnish  con- 
venient trading  places. 

Lexington  Township. — Indians  still  had  their  villages  in  this  town- 
ship when  the  first  white  settlers  came,  one  band  of  Kickapoos  being 
located  near  where  Selma  was  afterward,  and  the  Delawares  with  a  band 
farther  up  the  Mackinaw.  In  1828  several  white  men  arrived,  including 
Conrad  Flesher,  John  Haner  and  his  sons,  Jacob,  John  and  William;  Isaac 
and  Joseph  Brumhead.  John  Patton  and  family1  reached  the  settlement 
next  spring,  having  wintered  near  the  home  of  John  W.  Dawson  at  Bloom- 
ing Grove.  When  Patton  arrived  he  found  the  deserted  wigwams  of  the 
Kickapoos,  who  had  moved  out.  The  Indians  came  back  in  the  summer, 
but  found  their  habitations  occupied  by  white  men.  The  red  men  stayed 
around  the  vicinity  all  summer  and  helped  Patton  build  his  first  cabin. 
In  the  fall  they  removed  to  Livingston  County  to  remain.  Patton's  house 
was  turned  into  a  block  house  or  fort  during  the  Black  Hawk  War,  but 
no  Indians  attacked  it.  Valentine  Spawr  and  Milton  Smith  were  the  next 
additions  to  the  settlement.  The  latter  became  a  prominent  citizen  and 
member  of  the  county  commissioners'  court.  The  Mackinaw  River  and 
its  surrounding  timber  proved  an  attraction  to  settlers  and  several  mills 
were  early  built  along  the  stream.  William  Haner,  John  Patton,  John 
Haner  and  Harrison  Foster  were  those  who  erected  grist  and  saw  mills. 
Patrick  Hopkins  was  a  newcomer  about  1831  and  he  became  well  known. 
He  and  General  Bartholomew  made  a  noted  trip  to  the  Indian  settlement 
at  Oliver's  Grove  in  Livingston  County,  to  see  if  the  Indians  were  dis- 
posed to  be  hostile.  Instead,  they  were  given  a  friendly  greeting.  Hop- 
kins was  in  demand  by  Judge  Davis  as  a  juryman  and  served  many  times 
in  different  court  houses.  James  R.  Dawson  arrived  at  about  the  time 
of  the  Black  Hawk  war  and  he  became  county  commissioner  in  1845. 

Lexington  Township  had  two  villages,  one  of  which  survived,  the 
other  passed  away.  The  village  of  Lexington  was  laid  out  by  James 
Brown  and  Asahel  Gridley  in  1837,  taking  its  name  from  Lexington,  Ky. 
The  panic  of  1837  struck  the  town  as  it  did  everything  else,  and  it  got  a 
slow  start.  Jacob  Spawr,  who  was  born  in  January,  1802,  in  Pennsylvania, 
settled  here  in  1826,  and  located  in  Money  Creek.  He  lived  in  the  vicinity 
of  Lexington  until  his  death  on  Aug.  20,  1902,  having  attained  the  remark- 
able age  of  100  years,  six  months  and  26  days.     Spawr's  tavern  was  a 


108  History  of  McLean  County 

favorite  stopping  place  for  lawyers  and  others  going  from  one  county- 
court  to  another,  and  among  the  other  guests  at  the  place  was  Abraham 
Lincoln  on  several  occasions.  The  village  of  Lexington  began  its  pros- 
perity when  the  Chicago  &  St.  Louis  Railroad  was  built  through  the  place. 
Noah  Franklin  and  his  bride  rode  to  Bloomington  on  the  first  train  that 
ran  through  the  village.  Franklin  and  Long  built  a  hotel,  and  among  the 
early  merchants  were  J.  C.  Mahan,  George  Dement,  and  men  by  the  name 
of  Gregory  and  Knotts.  Soon  after  the  village  was  incorporated  on  July 
12,  1855,  the  citizens  held  a  public  meeting  to  denounce  intemperance 
and  take  measures  to  put  the  rum  sellers  out  of  business.  There  were 
two  of  them,  Edward  Gleason  and  Albert  Hancock.  They  set  a  price 
upon  their  stocks,  which  sum  was  raised  by  public  donations,  and  the 
liquors  then  emptied  upon  the  streets.  No  liquor  was  afterward  sold  in 
Lexington  for  many  years.  William  M.  Smith,  a  prominent  resident  of 
Lexington  and  member  of  the  Legislature,  secured  the  passage  of  a  law 
giving  power  to  the  town  council  to  prohibit  the  sale  of  liquors.  At- 
tempts to  incorporate  under  the  general  law  were  defeated  until  1901, 
when  the  change  was  made  and  Lexington  had  licensed  saloons  until 
prohibited  under  the  local  option  law  in  1914.  There  were  three  saloons 
in  1907  each  paying  $1,200  annual  license.  William  M.  Smith  was  per- 
haps Lexington's  most  distinguished  citizen  for  many  years,  being  legis- 
lator, speaker  of  the  House,  and  member  of  the  Railroad  Commission. 
Bernard  Claggett,  another  resident  of  Lexington,  was  Democratic  candi- 
date for  State  Treasurer  on  one  occasion.  He  afterward  moved  to  Okla- 
homa and  died  there.  W.  M.  Claggett,  of  Lexington,  was  superintendent 
of  the  Soldiers'  Orphans'  Home  at  Normal  for  several  years  and  was  very 
successful  in  the  position.  Lexington  always  had  progressive  schools 
and  churches.  The  United  Brethren,  Methodists  and  Baptists  were  the 
earlier  denominations.  The  Christian  Church  later  organized  a  congre- 
gation, and  the  Catholics  also  formed  a  church  there. 

The  town  in  Lexington  Township  which  once  was  and  is  not  now,  was 
Pleasant  Hill,  in  section  21,  which  was  laid  out  in  1840  by  Isaac  Smalley. 
It  had  a  fine  location  and  good  prospects  until  the  location  of  the  Chicago 
&  Alton  Railroad  left  it  isolated,  when  it  began  to  go  backward.  Mr. 
Smalley  tried  to  get  the  proposed  east  and  west  line,  the  Peoria  & 
Oquawka  road,  to  pass  his  town,  but  he  died  before  success  crowned  his 


History  of  McLean  County  109 

effort,  and  when  the  road  was  finally  built  it  ran  considerably  north  of 
Pleasant  Hill.    Only  one  or  two  buildings  now  mark  the  site  of  the  village. 

Lexington  held  a  notable  celebration  on  July  4,  1901,  when  a  meeting 
under  the  auspices  of  the  McLean  County  Historical  Society  commemo- 
rated the  seventy-fifth  anniversary  of  the  settlement  of  the  upper  Macki- 
naw. Hon.  Lawrence  Y.  Sherman  was  the  speaker  of  the  occasion,  and 
Joseph  Spawr,  then  in  his  100th  year,  was  the  guest  of  honor.  Governor 
Fifer,  Judge  Tipton  and  others  gave  talks,  and  at  night  there  was  a  con- 
cert and  fireworks  in  the  city  park. 

Lexington  Township  made  the  first  attempt  at  making  hard  surfaced 
roads  in  McLean  County.  Using  the  beds  of  gravel  that  abound  in  the 
township,  the  road  commissioners  in  1887  began  hauling  it  to  the  roads 
forming  a  central  bed  ten  feet  wide  with  earth  roads  at  the  side.  It  cost 
about  $1,200  a  mile  and  served  the  purpose  of  travel  in  wet  weather  bet- 
ter than  any  other  form  of  improved  highway  in  the  county  up  to  that 
time.    Thirty  miles  of  such  road  was  constructed  in  the  township. 

Lexington  people  have  always  believed  in  education,  and  have  now 
two  as  substantial  schools  as  can  be  found  in  any  place  of  similar  size. 
The  primitive  churches  have  given  way  to  beautiful  and  substantial  edi- 
fices. Lexington  has  one  of  the  best  town  parks  in  the  county.  The 
public  library  is  one  of  the  things  of  which  Lexington  is  proud,  being  well 
supplied  with  books  and  also  serving  as  a  public  meeting  place.  The  busi- 
ness district  is  well  built,  mostly  of  brick  buildings  two  and  three  stories 
in  height.  It  is  electrically  lighted,  with  some  paved  streets  and  sewer 
systems.  It  is  a  fine  trading  center  and  is  well  known  as  a  grain  and  stock 
shipping  point.  The  city  has  two  banks  and  one  weekly  newspaper,  the 
Unit-Journal,  edited  by  Miss  Florence  Wright. 

Martin  Township. — This  township  took  its  name  from  Dr.  E.  Mar- 
tin, of  Bloomington,  who  owned  a  tract  of  1,700  acres  in  the  township. 
The  land  is  largely  prairie,  with  originally  about  1,040  acres  of  timber. 
The  Mackinaw  River  runs  west  along  the  northern  tier  of  sections,  and 
here  most  of  the  timber  is  located.  One  grove  was  known  many  years 
as  Funk's  Bunch,  being  on  a  tract  of  1,000  acres  which  Isaac  Funk  owned. 
It  was  later  sold  to  Peter  Harpole  and  the  timber  became  known  as  Har- 
pole's  Grove.     William  and  L.  R.  Wiley,  brothers,  bought  land  near  the 


110  History  of  McLean  County 

Mackinaw  in  1835,  partly  located  in  Lawndale  and  some  of  it  in  Martin 
Township.  Curtis  Batterton  came  about  1837,  both  he  and  the  Wileys 
being  from  Kentucky.  Martin  Batterton  bought  land  on  the  north  side 
of  the  Mackinaw  in  Lawndale  Township.  The  Batterton  and  Wileys  were 
hunters  and  spent  much  time  in  trying  to  exterminate  the  wolves  which 
prayed  on  the  stock.  Deer  were  found  in  the  vicinity  as  late  as  1865. 
When  the  rush  for  prairie  land  was  on  from  1865  to  1870,  most  of  the 
tracts  in  Martin  Township  were  taken  up.  Martin  long  sought  to  secure 
a  railroad  when  the  new  lines  were  being  platted  across  this  part  of  the 
state.  It  failed  in  the  effort  to  get  the  extension  of  the  Wabash  south 
from  Forrest,  for  the  line  was  built  through  Gibson  to  Decatur.  But  the 
Clinton,  Bloomington  &  Southwestern,  now  known  as  the  Kankakee  branch 
of  the  Illinois  Central,  was  built  from  the  northeast  into  the  township  and 
for  two  years  had  its  terminus  at  the  new  town  of  Colfax.  This  town 
boomed  at  first,  being  platted  on  W.  G.  Anderson's  land.  A  coal  mine 
was  soon  started  and  continued  in  operation  for  many  years,  but  finally 
discontinued.    It  was  200  feet  deep  and  had  a  two-foot  vein. 

The  village  of  Colfax  was  incorporated  in  1880,  and  from  the  start 
was  growing  and  prosperous.  There  was  a  large  amount  of  grain  shipped 
through  the  three  elevators  located  there.  The  business  district  was 
laid  out  on  a  wide  street,  and  the  residences  were  of  substantial  and  mod- 
ern character.  It  has  always  had  schools  of  a  high  grade  for  the  size  of 
the  town,  and  modern  school  facilities  have  been  provided.  There  are 
several  churches.  For  many  years  the  question  of  "license"  or  "no  li- 
cense" formed  the  main  question  at  the  local  elections,  but  finally  saloons 
disappeared  under  the  state  local  option  plan  of  voting  and  then  by  the 
enactment  of  national  prohibition. 

The  news  of  Colfax  and  vicinity  is  purveyed  by  the  Colfax  Press, 
edited  by  H.  C.  Van  Alstyne,  and  this  paper  has  a  page  devoted  to  news 
of  Anchor  and  vicinity.  The  mercantile  interests  of  Colfax  are  varied, 
and  it  has  one  bank  and  one  modern  moving  picture  theater. 

Money  Creek  Township. — The  township  takes  the  name  of  the  creek 
which  enters  its  borders  near  the  southwestern  corner  and  passes  to  the 
northwest.  The  Mackinaw  River  crosses  its  northeast  corner.  Being 
well  supplied  with  water  and  timber  land,  the  township  was  settled  very 
early,  Lewis  Sowards  arriving  here  in  1825.     Jacob  Harness  came  about 


History  of  McLean  County  111 

the  same  time  and  Jacob  Spawr  in  1826.  Being  accustomed  to  the  wild 
life  of  the  frontier,  Sowards  moved  to  Wisconsin  when  his  neighbors  be- 
came too  "thick" — that  is,  when  there  were  several  within  a  few  miles 
of  him.  Gen.  Joseph  Bartholomew  was  perhaps  the  most  distinguished 
of  the  early  settlers  of  this  township,  coming  here  from  Bartholomew 
County,  Ind.,  in  1830.  He  had  a  distinguished  military  record  in  the 
Revolutionary  War,  in  the  Indian  wars  that  followed  and  was  an  officer 
in  the  battle  of  Tippecanoe,  where  he  was  wounded.  He  was  a  distin- 
guished citizen  of  Indiana,  when  he  met  financial  reverses  and  emigrated 
to  Illinois  to  attempt  to  recuperate  his  fortunes.  When  the  Black  Hawk 
War  was  on  in  1832,  the  people  of  this  sparsely  settled  county  were  in 
fear  of  attacks  by  the  red  men,  hence  sent  General  Bartholomew  to  the 
Indian  village  in  Livingston  County  to  learn  the  real  intentions  of  the 
Indians.  They  met  a  friendly  reception,  and  their  report  served  to  allay 
many  of  the  fears  among  the  settlers  of  this  county.  Nevertheless, 
General  Bartholomew  believed  in  "preparedness,"  hence  he  advised  the 
building  of  rude  forts  or  block  houses  as  means  of  defense.  One  such  was 
erected  at  the  home  of  John  Patton  near  Selma  in  Lexington  Township 
and  the  Henlines  also  erected  one.  General  Bartholomew  and  his  son 
Marston  laid  out  the  village  of  Clarksville  on  July  13,  1836.  In  a  few 
years  it  had  grown  to  quite  a  town,  with  a  hotel,  store,  shoe  shop,  carding 
mill,  cabinet  shop  and  saloon,  there  being  about  twenty  buildings.  Gen- 
eral Bartholomew  died  in  1840,  leaving  his  plans  for  bridging  the  Macki- 
naw River  incomplete,  and  the  town  of  Clarksville  gradually  lost  prestige 
and  population  until  there  are  only  two  buildings  left  on  its  site.  Always 
interested  in  public  affairs,  General  Bartholomew  took  an  active  part  in 
the  campaign  of  1840  for  his  friend  and  old  commander,  Gen.  William 
Henry  Harrison.  His  exertions  in  the  campaign  resulted  in  his  collapse 
and  death  on  Nov.  2  that  year.  Many  mills  were  built  in  Money  Creek 
Township  in  the  early  days,  but  none  of  them  remain.  Among  the  pro- 
prietors of  these  mills  were  George  W.  Wallis,  Adam  Hinthorn,  W.  G. 
Bishop.  There  is  one  village  in  the  township,  Fifer  by  name,  but  it  has 
no  postoffice.  United  Brethren  and  Methodist  churches  were  organized 
in  the  township,  but  only  two  U.  B.  churches  remain  at  present,  people  of 
other  denominations  going  to  Towanda  or  Lexington.  The  C.  &  A.  rail- 
road crosses  a  corner  of  this  township,  but  there  is  no  station  in  the 
township. 


112  History  of  McLean  County 

Mt.  Hope  Township. — Another  of  the  townships  of  the  county  which 
was  settled  mainly  by  a  colonization  scheme.  Located  in  the  southwest- 
ern part  of  the  county,  it  contains  48  sections  of  land,  of  which  940  acres 
were  originally  timber.  Among  its  earlier  settlers  was  William  Johnson, 
who  located  at  a  grove  on  Sugar  Creek  named  in  honor  of  him.  He  was 
justice  of  the  peace  and  county  commissioner  1837-40.  Among  the  other 
early  settlers  of  the  region  were  Phillip  Cline,  James  Murphy,  Jacob 
Moore,  John  and  Robert  Longworth,  Daniel  Proctor,  Ezra  Kenyon  and 
Nicholas  Darnell. 

The  Mt.  Hope  colony  was  formed  in  Rhode  Island  in  1835  with  $12,500 
in  capital  and  composed  of  many  men  of  means  and  intelligence.  It  was 
proposed  that  each  one's  share  in  the  new  settlement  would  be  320  acres 
of  land  and  four  lots  in  the  village  of  Mt.  Hope.  Twenty-two  sections, 
14,000  acres,  were  entered,  and  the  village  of  Mt.  Hope  laid  out.  There 
were  6,000  acres  also  held  in  trust  for  the  general  purposes  of  the  col- 
ony. Fifteen  families  formed  the  advance  guard  of  the  colony  in  the 
spring  of  1837,  coming  by  way  of  New  York,  Pittsburgh,  down  the  Ohio 
and  Mississippi  Rivers  to  St.  Louis,  then  by  wagon  to  this  county.  The 
settlers  soon  established  their  distinctive  New  England  institutions,  the 
school  house,  Thanksgiving  day  and  the  Congregational  church.  How- 
ever, owing  to  the  hard  times  of 'that  period,  the  colony  had  rough  sled- 
ding and  lost  many  of  its  original  members.  In  1845  the  trust  lands  were 
sold  at  $3  to  $5  per  acre.  A  proposed  railroad  from  Pekin  to  Blooming- 
ton  along  in  the  '40's  was  never  built,  and  the  hopes  of  this  colony  for  a 
railroad  were  deferred  till  the  building  of  the  Chicago  &  Alton  road  in 
1853,  which  had  a  station  at  McLean.  The  township  of  Mt.  Hope  was 
organized  in  1858  with  Daniel  Windsor  as  first  supervisor.  The  village 
was  laid  out  by  Franklin  Price,  former  mayor  of  Bloomington,  in  June, 
1855.  Among  the  first  settlers  in  the  village  were  G.  L.  and  F.  A. 
Wheelock,  E.  G.  Clark,  John  Kellogg,  H.  W.  Wood,  and  Dr.  F.  P.  King. 
The  Wheelocks  and  Wood  opened  stores.  The  first  postmaster  was  John 
Goodhue.  Early  grain  buyers  were  A.  H.  Dillon  and  Mark  Marions,  J. 
S.  and  G.  P.  Barber.  The  grain  elevator  erected  in  1868  by  C.  C.  Aldrich 
was  conducted  by  him  many  years  and  now  belongs  to  his  son,  Frank 
W.  Aldrich.  Many  saw  and  grist  mills  were  built  in  this  township  in 
the  early  days,  but  all  of  them  eventually  were  abandoned,  the  latest 
survivor  being  Moore's  grist  mill  on  Sugar  creek  in  Johnson's  grove, 


History  of  McLean  County  113 

built  about  1840.  Schools  and  churches  were  among  the  first  institu- 
tions of  the  Mt.  Hope  colony,  the  first  school  being  in  the  village  of  Mt. 
Hope.  There  are  now  four  churches  in  McLean,  Methodist,  Presbyterian, 
Baptist  and  Christian.  The  town  has  one  newspaper,  the  McLean  Lens, 
published  by  Crihfield  from  Atlanta.  Mt.  Hope  Township  is  the  center 
of  the  chief  dairying  industry  of  McLean  County,  there  being  several 
farmers  who  keep  large  dairy  herds.  Snow  &  Palmer  of  Bloomington 
is  the  principal  distributing  means  for  the  milk  and  cream.  Barnes  & 
Tudor  and  Leach  &  Sons  are  two  others  dairying  firms. 

The  village  of  McLean  has  one  of  the  best  community  high  schools 
in  the  county,  it  having  been  completed  in  1921  at  a  cost  of  $200,000. 
The  grade  schools  are  housed  in  good  substantial  buildings.  Practically 
all  lines  of  trade  are  represented  in  the  stores  of  the  village.  A  fine 
little  park  in  the  center  of  the  town  adds  to  its  beauty  and  utility. 

Normal  Township. — The  boundaries  of  Normal  Township  and  the 
city  of  Bloomington  formerly  overlapped  each  other,  that  part  of  the 
city  of  Bloomington  between  Empire  and  Division  Streets  being  located 
within  Normal  Township.  This  made  a  confusing  state  of  affairs  espe- 
cially in  election  precincts.  This  was  remedied  in  the  year  when  the 
voters  of  Bloomington  organized  the  township  of  the  city  of  Blooming- 
ton, whose  boundaries  were  co-extensive  with  the  city  limits.  Normal 
Township  thus  lost  some  of  its  territory  and  population. 

Jesse  W.  Fell,  who  located  his  home  on  a  high  rise  of  ground  north 
of  the  then  city  of  Bloomington  in  1833,  began  at  once  to  secure  public 
improvements  for  his  neighborhood.  When  the  crossing  place  of  the 
two  new  railroads,  the  Illinois  Central  and  the  Chicago  &  St.  Louis,  was 
fixed,  the  site  was  first  called  the  "Junction,"  and  later  North  Bloom- 
ington. Jesse  Fell  early  conceived  the  idea  of  locating  here  some  kind 
of  educational  institution,  and  when  on  June  15,  1854,  a  sale  of  lots  was 
held  at  North  Bloomington,  one  block  was  named  "Seminary  Block." 
Being  a  strong  temperance  man,  Mr.  Fell  provided  in  every  deed  for  a 
lot  sold  that  no  liquor  should  be  sold  on  that  lot,  thus  establishing  the 
new  town  as  an  anti-liquor  community.  In  1867  on  a  petition  of  the 
people  of  Normal,  this  prohibition  was  enacted  into  special  statutory 
form.  Pursuing  his  intention  to  secure  an  educational  institution,  Mr. 
Fell  went  to  work  after  a  convention  of  educators  held  in  Bloomington  on 

(6) 


114  History  of  McLean  County 

Dec.  26,  1853,  had  decided  in  favor  of  founding  a  state  institution  for 
the  training  of  teachers,  and  this  had  been  followed  by  a  bill  passed  by 
the  Legislature  on  February  18,  1857,  providing  for  such  a  training  school. 
Mr.  Fell,  Prof.  D.  Wilkins  and  others  started  in  to  gather  funds  for  mak- 
ing an  offer  for  the  location  of  the  normal  training  school  at  "North 
Bloomington."  They  were  successful,  making  a  much  better  bid  than 
Peoria,  their  nearest  competitor,  and  the  State  Normal  University  was 
thus  founded  and  located  here.  In  honor  of  the  new  school,  the  name 
of  the  Junction  was  changed  from  North  Bloomington  to  Normal,  and 
the  township  was  likewise  named.  The  change  officially  took  place  April 
6,  1858.  Mr.  Fell  had  for  many  years  after  his  first  settlement  here 
been  busy  in  planting  trees,  and  hence  when  the  state  committee  to  locate 
the  normal  school  visited  this  new  community  they  saw  in  it  possibilities 
for  great  future  beauty.  This  was  one  of  the  deciding  factors  in  the 
location  of  the  new  school.  The  lands  of  Normal  Township  had  originally 
been  rich  black  prairie. 

A  second  state  institution  was  secured  for  Normal  in  1867,  when 
through  the  generosity  of  Jesse  Fell,  Judge  Davis  and  others,  the  Sol- 
diers' Orphans'  Home  was  located  here. 

Normal  has  been  from  its  beginning  a  center  of  the  nursery  industry 
in  Illinois.  Jesse  W.  Fell  had  a  nursery  of  limited  extent,  while  along 
from  1855  to  '59  Cyrus  R.  Overman  conducted  a  nursery  in  company 
with  his  brother-in-law,  Capt.  W.  H.  Mann,  a  veteran  of  the  94th  Illinois 
and  father  of  the  famous  congressman,  James  Mann,  who  died  in  1923. 
The  F.  X.  Phoenix  nurseries  were  famous  in  their  day,  and  later  Capt. 
Henry  Augustine  conducted  a  large  nursery,  which  is  now  owned  by  his 
Son,  A.  M.  Augustine  and  run  under  the  name  of  the  Augustine  Nursery 
Co.  George  J.  Foster,  H.  K.  Vickroy  and  B.  J.  Vandervoort  were  other 
nurserymen  of  later  years. 

The  town  of  Normal  was  incorporated  in  1865  under  the  general 
law.  The  first  trustees  were  L.  A.  Hovey,  Wesley  Pierce,  D.  P.  Fyffe, 
John  A.  Rockwood  and  S.  J.  Reeder.  For  many  years  the  town  struggled 
under  the  handicap  of  lack  of  paved  streets,  but  some  fifteen  years  ago, 
under  the  mayorship  of  0.  L.  Manchester,  an  era  of  improvement  struck 
the  citizens  and  practically  every  principal  street  of  the  town  was  paved 
before  they  stopped.  Broadway,  which  is  a  boulevard,  is  one  of  the  hand- 
somest drives  to  be  found  in  any  town  of  the  state.     Two  of  the  state 


History  of  McLean  County  115 

paved  highways  passed  through  Normal  in  1923,  one  from  the  south- 
west to  northeast,  the  other  from  north  to  south.  The  population  of 
Normal  is  made  up  largely  of  families  who  originally  moved  to  the  place 
to  educate  their  children  and  became  permanent  residents.  The  town 
has  a  modern  business  district  and  several  small  factories.  Several  paved 
streets  connect  it  with  Bloomington,  making  the  two  corporations  prac- 
tically as  one  town,  which  some  day  they  may  become  in  name  as  well 
as  in  fact. 

Old  Town  Township. — The  belt  of  timber  across  the  southern  border 
gave  its  name  to  this  township,  the  grove  in  turn  taking  its  name  from 
the  old  Indian  town.  The  grove  covered  6,620  acres,  being  18  miles  long 
and  three  miles  wide.  It  was  at  the  headwaters  of  the  Kickapoo  Creek. 
William  Evans  was  the  first  settler  within  the  township  borders,  coming 
in  1826.  His  farm  buildings  were  destroyed  by  a  tornado  in  September, 
1827,  and  he  gave  up  and  moved  to  Blooming  Grove.  His  land  afterward 
became  a  part  of  the  city  of  Bloomington  and  was  quite  valuable.  John 
Bishop  was  a  settler  in  Old  Town  in  1830  and  William  Bishop  in  1832. 
John  Hendryx  and  Lewis  Case  also  came  about  that  time.  The  first 
school  was  in  Lewis  Case's  home,  taught  by  Callista  Stanton  in  1838. 
The  same  house  also  sheltered  the  first  church  meeting.  In  1853  the 
Methodists  built  a  church  at  Benjaminville,  which  was  later  moved  to 
the  village  of  Holder  and  sold  to  the  United  Brethren.  The  Society  of 
Friends  formed  the  religious  influence  at  Benjaminville.  When  the  rail- 
road afterward  known  as  the  Lake  Erie  road  was  built,  the  village  of 
Holder  was  laid  out  in  1871  by  Charles  W.  Holder.  It  occupies  ten  acres 
in  section  13.  The  hamlet  of  Gillum  is  located  in  the  southwestern  part 
of  the  township  and  is  on  the  New  York  Central,  or  Nickel  Plate  rail- 
road. Pleasant  Grove  church  and  cemetery  are  located  on  section  26, 
and  an  older  cemetery  on  section  22,  not  now  in  use. 

Randolph  Township. — Gardner  Randolph  was  the  first  white  man  to 
settle  in  this  immediate  vicinity,  and  for  him  the  grove  where  he  settled 
was  named,  and  in  turn  gave  the  name  to  the  township  formed.  This 
was  a  favorite  resort  of  the  Indians  before  the  white  men  came,  and 
many  relics  of  the  red  men  have  been  found  by  Milo  Custer  and  others 
in  the  vicinity  of  Randolph  Grove.  Gardner  Randolph  reached  his  stop- 
ping place  in  December,  1823,  and  set  up  a  hut  formed  of  brush,  hay  and 


116  History  of  McLean  County 

the  canvas  cover  of  his  wagon.  Born  in  North  Carolina,  Randolph  had 
first  moved  to  Alabama,  then  to  White  County,  Illinois,  then  to  Sanga- 
mon County,  thence  to  McLean.  After  this  region  was  pretty  well  set- 
tled, he  moved  on  to  the  west,  locating  in  Kansas,  and  at  last  went  on  to 
California,  where  he  died  in  1866.  It  was  a  hard  life  indeed  for  the 
Randolph  family  the  first  year,  as  they  had  little  to  subsist  upon,  not 
even  milk  from  a  cow  until  the  second  year.  Other  settlers  joined  Ran- 
dolph in  the  grove  in  the  following  two  years,  the  Stringfields,  John 
Moore,  Samuel  Stewart,  Thomas  0.  Rutledge  and  Jesse  Funk.  Gardner 
Randolph  was  a  religious  man,  an  adherent  of  the  Methodist  Church,  but 
in  politics  opposed  to  the  Abolitionists.  John  Moore  came  into  promi- 
nence in  the  early  years  of  the  county,  was  elected  to  the  legislature, 
became  lieutenant  governor  of  the  state  and  later  state  treasurer.  His 
grave  is  in  one  of  the  old  cemeteries  of  Randolph  neighborhood.  Jesse 
Funk  was  a  sturdy  stockman.  He  raised  hogs  and  drove  them  to  Galena 
to  market.  In  one  of  these  trips  in  the  winter  of  '31  he  was  caught  en 
route  with  other  men  in  the  deep  snow,  but  they  finally  got  out  alive.  He 
was  instrumental  in  retaining  the  north  tier  of  sections  in  township  2 
for  McLean  County  instead  of  giving  them  to  DeWitt  as  was  proposed 
when  the  latter  county  was  organized.  Jesse  Funk  was  a  county  com- 
missioner 1844  to  1849.  Capt.  John  Karr,  a  Revolutionary  war  soldier, 
came  with  his  sons  in  1835.  The  Rust  family,  the  Nobles,  Stewarts  and 
others  were  among  the  earlier  settlers.  Dr.  Harrison  Rust  and  Dr.  A.  E. 
Stewart  were  prominent  citizens,  soldiers,  writers  and  farmers.  Camp- 
bell Wakefield  and  Isaac  Van  Ordstrand  were  also  early  and  prominent 
settlers.  Randolph  Township  was  famous  for  its  mills  in  the  early  days, 
these  using  the  water  power  of  the  Kickapoo  Creek,  which  was  sufficient 
to  turn  wheels  about  half  the  year.  Probably  the  first  water  mill  in  the 
county  was  one  built  by  Michael  Dickerson,  and  later  sold  to  William 
Hampton  and  Martin  L.  Bishop.  James  Hedrick  put  up  a  sawmill  on  the 
Kickapoo  at  the  then  young  village  of  Lytleville.  John  Baldwin  bought 
this  mill  and  was  really  the  founder  of  Lytleville,  which  was  once  a  flour- 
ishing and  ambitious  village,  but  died  out  when  Heyworth  was  started 
as  a  station  on  the  new  Illinois  Central  railroad,  two  miles  away  from  the 
Lytleville  site.  G.  Kimler  and  a  Mr.  French  were  other  owners  of  early 
time  saw  mills  on  the  Kickapoo.    Rev.  Ebenezer  Rhodes  conducted  the  first 


History  of  McLean  County  117 

church  in  1823.    Jesse  Walker,  a  missionary  and  Rev.  John  See,  a  Meth- 
odist, were  also  pioneer  preachers. 

The  village  of  Heyworth  was  laid  out  by  Campbell  Wakefield  Sept. 
11,  1858,  and  incorporated  in  1869.  It  is  one  of  the  most  flourishing  and 
up-to-date  towns  in  the  county,  with  modern  homes,  two  banks,  churches, 
a  newspaper  and  other  business  enterprises.  Heyworth  has  good  churches. 
The  Presbyterian  congregation  was  organized  in  1844  by  Rev.  Josiah 
Porter  and  has  a  good  building  and  parsonage.  Flourishing  Methodist 
and  Christian  congregations  are  also  in  the  town.  Heyworth  is  supplied 
with  modern  grade  and  high  schools.  Heyworth's  weekly  newspaper  is 
named  the  Heyworth  Star.  The  paper  is  edited  by  P.  A.  Chapman.  The 
town  is  a  grain  and  stock  shipping  point.  It  has  many  good  stores,  two 
banks,  elevators  and  lumber  yards.  The  Illinois  Central  and  the  Illinois 
Traction  System  supply  its  transportation.  An  excellent  school  system 
includes  a  community  high  school,  among  the  best  in  the  county,  with 
grade  schools.  A  progressive  Parent-Teacher  association  is  at  work.  The 
churches  of  the  city  include  the  Christian,  Presbyterian  and  Methodist. 
There  are  many  lodges,  numbering  among  them  the  Odd  Fellows  and 
Knights  of  Pythias,  both  of  which  own  buildings  of  their  own;  the  Mod- 
ern Woodmen  and  Royal  Neighbors,  Masons  and  Eastern  Star,  Pythian 
Sisters,  Rebekahs,  and  Court  of  Honor.  There  is  a  large  post  of  Amer- 
ican Legion. 

Towanda  Township. — Being  a  prairie  district,  Towanda  was  not  set- 
tled as  early  as  some  of  the  townships  having  timber.  There  is  only  460 
acres  of  timber  in  the  township  and  the  rest  of  the  land  is  rich  prairie 
soil.  Smith's  grove,  named  for  David  Smith,  who  settled  there  in  1830, 
is  in  the  center  of  the  township,  while  in  the  north  part  is  a  strip  of 
timber  along  Money  Creek.  John  Trimmer  and  family  were  the  first 
settlers,  coming  in  1826,  following  an  Indian  trail  from  the  Wabash  coun- 
try and  settling  at  the  grove.  Frederick  Rook  came  soon  afterward,  but 
later  moved  to  Livingston  County.  William  Halterman  settled  on  the 
prairie  in  1840.  About  1837  Elbert  Dickason  and  John  Pennell  erected 
a  sawmill  on  Money  Creek.  David  Trimmer  had  a  blacksmith  shop  at  the 
head  of  Money  Creek  timber  as  early  as  1828.  Jacob  Spawr  and  Eliza 
Ann  Trimmer  were  married  on  Dec.  3,  1826.     Notices  of  the  proposed 


118  History  of  McLean  County 

wedding  were  posted,  in  lieu  of  getting  a  license  from  the  county  seat. 
W.  C.  Orendorff  performed  the  wedding  service.  The  postoffice  of  the 
township  was  at  the  home  of  William  D.  Moore,  on  the  site  of  the  present 
town  of  Towanda.  The  first  preacher  was  John  Dunham  at  Smith's 
Grove  in  1832.  Rev.  Ebenezer  Rhodes  visited  this  section  in  his  rounds. 
There  are  now  Methodist,  Presbyterian,  Baptist  and  Catholic  churches 
in  the  township. 

Peter  Badeau  and  Jesse  W.  Fell  laid  out  the  village  of  Towanda  on 
Dec.  1.  1854.  Charles  Roadnight,  then  treasurer  of  the  Chicago  &  Alton 
road,  established  here  a  country  place  which  became  famous  in  its  time 
for  the  elaborate  expenditures  which  he  lavished  upon  it.  He  tried  to 
boom  the  town  and  built  there  a  two-story  building  50  by  100  feet,  the 
upper  part  of  which  was  designed  for  a  public  hall.  But  the  structure 
fell  to  decay  and  finally  burned  down.  A  good  flour  mill  was  erected  by 
Roadnight  and  Strothers,  but  did  not  long  continue  in  use.  Henry  War- 
ner's mill  met  with  a  similar  fate.  William  R.  Duncan  was  one  of  the 
earliest  breeders  of  fine  cattle  in  this  vicinity.  Towanda  at  present  is  a 
village  of  some  considerable  prosperity  in  trading.  It  is  located  on  the 
state  paved  road  forming  the  direct  line  of  travel  between  Chicago  and 
St.  Louis.  The  Chicago  &  Alton  railroad  runs  through  it  and  has  a  new 
station  there. 

Two  other  railroad  stations  are  in  the  township,  both  Barnes  and 
Merna  being  on  the  branch  of  the  Illinois  Central.  Merna  is  the  center 
of  a  large  and  prosperous  farming  district  mainly  composed  of  adherents 
of  the  Catholic  church,  and  they  have  a  large  church  at  the  town.  There 
are  two  community  halls  and  two  elevators. 

West  Township. — It  was  first  attempted  to  name  this  township  Pot- 
tawatomie in  honor  of  the  Indian  tribe  of  that  name;  then  Kickapoo  for 
that  tribe,  but  at  last  the  board  of  supervisors  gave  it  the  name  of  West 
in  honor  of  Henry  West,  one  of  the  early  settlers  and  largest  landowners. 
The  first  entry  of  lands  from  the  government  in  the  southeast  part  of 
the  county  was  by  Jonathan  Cheney,  this  land  being  located  near  the  old 
Indian  town.  Absalom  Funk  entered  a  large  tract  in  the  same  vicinity, 
on  which  was  the  site  of  the  supposed  Indian  fort.  Henry  West  entered 
a  tract  of  2,500  acres  in  1850,  while  John  Weedman  took  up  a  large  tract 
in  the  southeast  part  of  the  township.     These  two  men  early  developed 


History  of  McLean  County  119 

a  large  cattle  business.  The  tract  of  timber  on  section  5  was  named 
Weedman's  Grove.  Henry  West  was  elected  first  supervisor  when  the 
township  was  organized  in  1858  and  continued  for  20  years.  During  the 
civil  war  he  distinguished  himself  by  his  activity  in  providing  means  for 
caring  for  the  families  of  soldiers.  Mr.  West  also  prevented  the  sale  of 
the  school  lands  owned  by  the  township,  so  that  the  school  tract  grew  to 
720  acres  which  yielded  an  income  of  $2,000  to  $3,000  annually,  which 
income  was  applied  to  school  maintenance  for  many  years,  thereby  re- 
ducing the  school  taxes  of  the  township.  He  served  the  people  well  in 
his  day  and  generation. 

West  township  is  distinguished  by  having  within  its  borders  two  of 
the  most  notable  Indian  relics  of  the  county.  These  are  the  sites  of  an 
old  Indian  town  and  also  that  of  an  Indian  fort.  The  late  Capt.  John  H. 
Burnham  was  most  active  in  seeking  to  trace  to  authentic  records  some 
of  the  facts  concerning  this  town  and  fort.  The  town  was  deserted  be- 
fore the  white  settlers  came,  after  the  Kickapoos  had  suffered  from  a 
scourge  of  smallpox,  and  they  moved  to  the  grove  further  north,  which 
became  known  as  Old  Town  timber,  and  so  remains  to  this  day.  Accord- 
ing to  researches  of  Captain  Burnham  and  the  late  Hiram  W.  Beckwith 
of  Danville,  there  were  traditions  that  the  Indians  here  had  been  attacked 
by  white  troops  and  driven  away.  By  some  it  was  said  to  have  been  a 
detachment  sent  by  General  Harrison  from  Indiana,  but  in  other  quarters 
it  was  said  to  have  been  a  squad  of  state  rangers  who  attacked  the  Indian 
camp  and  drove  them  off.  A  survey  was  made  in  1880  of  the  site  of  the 
old  Indian  town  and  fort  by  the  McLean  County  Historical  Society.  It 
was  figured  that  the  fort  consisted  of  some  kind  of  trenches  and  para- 
pets surmounted  by  stakes  driven  into  the  ground,  but  which  were  after- 
ward pulled  up  and  used  for  fuel.  In  1906,  at  the  instigation  of  Hon. 
Simeon  West,  son  of  Henry  West,  the  Historical  Society  took  steps  to 
erect  a  marker  for  the  site  of  the  old  fort.  Accordingly,  on  a  plot  of 
ground  two  rods  square,  donated  by  its  owner,  George  W.  Funk,  a  granite 
monument  costing  $100  was  erected,  on  which  was  inscribed:  "Site  of 
Ancient  Kickapoo  Fort.  Erected  by  the  McLean  County  Historical  So- 
ciety." This  was  mostly  paid  for  by  Mr.  West  and  George  P.  Davis, 
president  of  the  society,  in  order  to  preserve  from  oblivion  this  most 
valuable  historic  relic. 

West  Township  assisted  by  public  subscription  in  building  two  lines 


120  History  of  McLean  County 

of  railroad.  One  was  the  I.  B.  &  W.,  later  called  the  Big  Four  and  now 
the  Nickel  Plate,  to  which  West  Township  gave  $20,000  and  which  crossed 
the  southwest  corner  of  the  township.  It  was  built  in  1870.  The  largest 
town  on  the  road  that  is  near  to  West  Township  is  Farmer  City,  in  De- 
Witt  County.  Another  road  to  which  West  contributed  in  1878  was  a 
narrow  gauge,  which  was  afterward  purchased  by  the  Illinois  Central 
and  standardized.  The  station  of  Glenavon,  in  Bellflower  Township,  is 
nearest  to  West  on  this  line.  A  branch  of  the  Illinois  Central  was  built 
across  the  southeast  corner  of  the  township  in  1872,  without  aid  from  the 
public.  Weedman  is  the  station  on  this  line  in  West  Township.  Sabine 
is  near  the  center  of  the  township  on  the  former  narrow  gauge  line. 
Hon.  Simeon  H.  West,  son  of  the  first  settler  of  that*  name,  was  long 
a  member  of  the  supervisors,  and  in  1883-85  was  a  member  of  the  Legis- 
lature. He  owned  hundreds  of  acres  of  land  which  he  inherited  from  his 
father.  In  later  years  he  moved  to  Leroy  and  built  a  fine  home.  His  act 
of  most  public  interest  was  his  donation  of  20  acres  of  timber  land  to  the 
county  to  be  perpetually  used  for  park  purposes.  This  is  in  section  6  and 
was  donated  in  1906.    It  has  been  suitably  marked  and  named  West  Park. 

White  Oak  Township. — This,  the  smallest  township  in  McLean 
County,  contains  only  about  one-half  the  ordinary  area  of  a  congressional 
township.  Its  peculiar  shape  is  due  to  the  politics  of  two  families,  the 
Benson  and  the  Carlocks.  When  Woodford  County  was  formed,  the 
Carlocks  wanted  to  be  in  that  county,  because  it  was  Democratic,  while 
the  Bensons  wanted  to  be  in  the  Whig  county  of  McLean.  Consequently 
the  line  was  drawn  half  way  between  the  Benson  and  the  Carlock  farms. 
Only  one-half  of  White  Oak  Grove  is  in  this  township,  the  remainder 
being  in  Woodford  County.  Smith  Denman  was  the  first  settler,  in  Sept., 
1829.  He  was  followed  next  year  by  Elisha  Dixon,  John  Brown,  Samuel 
and  Robert  Phillips,  and  a  little  later  by  John,  James  and  William  Benson. 
The  father  of  the  Bensons  was  a  soldier  of  Tippecanoe  under  General  Har- 
rison, who  had  come  to  Blooming  Grove  in  1823.  He  afterward  became 
the  first  treasurer  of  Tazewell  County.  The  sons  served  in  the  Black 
Hawk  war,  and  the  grandsons  in  the  Civil  War.  Oak  Grove  was  one  of 
the  towns  of  McLean  County  which  was  destined  to  arise,  flourish  for  a 
time,  then  die  out.  It  was  situated  in  White  Oak  Township,  and  there 
a  town  hall  was  built,  a  postoffice  established,  several  stores  and  shops 
opened.    But  when  the  Lake  Erie  Railroad  was  built  and  a  station  placed 


PUBLIC    SCHOOL   BriLDIXd,    LEXINGTON,    ILLINOIS. 


SCHOOL    BUILDING,    CHENOA,    ILLINOIS. 


Of  THE 

<va 


History  of  McLean  County  121 

at  Carlock,  Oak  Grove  dwindled  away.  White  Oak  Grove  was  a  resort 
of  the  Indians,  and  a  camping  place  was  at  Indian  Point,  west  of  the  Car- 
lock  farm.  There  was  an  Indian  trail  leading  from  Blooming  Grove  along 
the  high  lands  past  Dry  Grove  and  Twin  Grove  to  White  Oak  Grove, 
thence  west  to  Peoria.  Another  trail  came  from  the  WTabash  country  on 
the  east  by  the  north  side  of  Cheney's  Grove,  thence  by  Money  Creek 
passing  near  where  Hudson  now  stands,  to  Indian  Point.  The  village  of 
Carlock  was  laid  out  Jan.  5,  1888,  by  John  P.  Carlock,  after  the  building 
of  the  Lake  Erie  Railroad  had  left  the  town  of  Oak  Grove  sidetracked  off 
the  line  of  the  road.  Most  of  the  buildings  of  Oak  Grove  were  removed 
to  Carlock.  The  latter  has  grown  slowly  since  it  was  founded.  It  has 
modern  business  buildings  for  a  town  of  its  size,  churches,  elevators,  good 
schools  and  a  newspaper.  It  is  located  on  one  of  the  trunk  line's  hard 
roads  built  by  the  state  in  the  years  1922-24. 

Yates  Township  lies  in  the  extreme  northeast  part  of  the  county. 
The  T.  P.  &  W.  Railroad  crosses  the  township.  Chenoa  and  Lexington 
are  the  nearest  trading  towns  in  McLean  County  for  the  Yates  Township 
people.  Owing  to  the  lack  of  timber,  Yates  was  not  settled  early,  the 
first  entries  of  lands  being  in  1855-6.  It  was  part  of  Chenoa  Township 
from  its  organization  in  1858  until  1862.  This  was  first  called  Union 
Township  owing  to  the  sentiments  of  its  people,  but  there  were  others 
of  the  same  name  in  the  state,  and  the  name  was  changed  to  Yates  in 
honor  of  the  Civil  War  governor  of  Illinois.  Yates  Township  had  a  great 
influx  of  population  just  after  the  Civil  War,  and  after  the  prairie  land 
was  properly  drained  it  became  some  of  the  most  fertile  in  the  county. 
Yates  Township  is  one  of  the  two  townships  in  the  county  which  still 
owns  school  lands,  there  being  240  acres  unsold  of  the  original  assign- 
ment, while  West  Township  has  720  acres.  The  township  school  fund  is 
$50,000,  being  next  to  West.  David  Ogle,  an  early  settler,  donated  to 
the  township  school  fund  $5,800,  and  later  a  further  sum  of  $2,000,  sub- 
ject only  to  a  small  life  annuity. 

The  village  of  Weston,  on  the  T.  P.  &  W.  railroad,  is  the  only  station 
in  the  township.  It  was  laid  out  in  1868  by  Nelson  Buck,  county  sur- 
veyor of  Livingston  County.  Two  elevators  handle  great  quantities  of 
grain.  Weston  has  never  been  incorporated  as  a  village,  though  several 
attempts  were  made.  There  are  Methodist  and  Christian  churches  in  the 
township,  and  also  one  called  the  Zion  church. 


CHAPTER  VI. 


CITY  OF  BLOOMINGTON. 


COUNTY  SEAT— LOCATED  AND  NAMED  BY  ACT  OP  GENERAL  ASSEMBLY — SALE  OF 
LOTS — INCORPORATION  OF  TOWN— OFFICIALS — PARKS— FIRE  DEPARTMENT 
— WATER  WORKS — PAVEMENT — SEWERS — ELECTRIC  LIGHT— FORMS  OF  GOV- 
ERNMENT. 

Bloomington  was  a  paper  city.  That  is,  it  existed  on  paper  before 
it  existed  in  fact.  When  a  committee  from  the  settlement  at  Blooming 
Grove  went  to  Vandalia  in  1830  with  a  petition  for  the  formation  of  a 
new  county  out  of  the  east  part  of  Tazewell  County,  the  Legislature 
granted  the  petition  and  chose  the  name  for  the  county  and  for  the 
county  seat.  The  county  was  named  McLean  in  honor  of  Hon.  John  Mc- 
Lean, one  of  the  great  men  of  Illinois  at  that  time,  who  had  just  recently 
died.  The  county  seat  was  given  the  name  of  Bloomington,  partly  as  an 
easy  adaptation  of  the  name  of  Blooming  Grove,  and  perhaps  following 
the  names  of  other  Bloomingtons  in  one  or  two  other  states. 

The  act  of  the  general  assembly  provided  that  the  county  seat  should 
be  located  on  land  donated  for  the  purpose,  not  less  than  20  acres.  Of 
this  donated  tract  sufficient  land  should  be  reserved  for  the  county  build- 
ing, the  remainder  to  be  platted  into  lots  and  sold  and  the  proceeds  used 
for  county  purposes.  In  the  previous  year,  on  Oct.  27,  1829,  James  Allin, 
who  came  here  from  Sangamon  County,  had  entered  from  the  govern- 
ment the  east  half  of  the  southwest  quarter  of  section  4  in  township  23 
north,  range  2  east  of  the  third  principal  meridian,  containing  80  acres. 
The  80  acres  north  was  entered  by  Robert  H.  Peebles  on  Aug.  11,  1830. 
Allin  later  acquired  the  Peebles  land,  probably  under  a  prior  contract. 
Lemuel  Lee  and  Isaac  C.   Pugh  were  appointed  by  the  Legislature  to 

122 


History  of  McLean  County  123 

choose  the  site  for  the  county  seat  of  McLean  County,  but  they  were 
deterred  by  the  "deep  snow"  of  the  month,  December,  1830,  and  did  not 
make  the  trip  to  this  county  to  decide  on  the  location  until  some  time  in 
the  spring,  and  their  report  was  first  acted  upon  at  the  May  meeting  of 
the  county  commissioners  in  1831.  The  report  of  the  commissioners  was 
that  the  county  seat  should  be  located  "on  the  land  of  James  Allin  on  the 
north  end  of  the  Blooming  Grove,  for  which  we  have  his  obligation  for 
the  donation  of  22*4  acres  of  land."  On  the  same  date  Dr.  Isaac  Baker, 
the  first  county  surveyor  and  county  clerk,  was  appointed  to  advertise  a 
sale  of  lots  on  the  following  July  4th.  At  the  next  meeting,  June  7,  he 
was  employed  to  plat  the  land.  This  original  plat  of  Bloomington  is  on 
record  on  the  first  page  of  the  book  of  deed  records  in  the  court  house. 

The  auction  sale  of  lots  was  duly  held  on  the  advertised  date,  and  the 
lots  were  bid  off  at  small  prices.  Milo  Custer,  the  local  historian,  made  a 
careful  study  of  records  and  compiled  a  list  of  buyers  of  these  lots  on  the 
first  sale,  from  which  the  following  appears,  giving  the  name  of  buyers 
and  the  prices  paid:  Bailey  H.  Coffey,  lot  10,  $15;  Joseph  B.  Harbert, 
lots  7,  9  and  53,  $20;  William  Harbert,  lots  11,  12  and  47,  $50;  John  W. 
Harbert,  lot  8,  $15;  M.  L.  Covell,  lots  4,  5,  29,  30,  and  37,  $80;  Rev.  James 
Latta,  lots  1,  2,  and  3,  $15;  Ebenezer  Rhodes,  lots  22  and  23,  $20;  Jona- 
than Cheney,  lots  17,  19,  21,  24,  31,  56,  and  57,  $80;  John  Maxwell,  lot  20, 
$10;  Jesse  Havens,  lots  15  and  16,  price  unknown;  James  K.  Orendorff, 
lot  18,  $29 ;  David  Trimmer,  lots  13  and  14,  $10 ;  David  Wheeler,  lots  27 
and  28,  $10 ;  Bailey  Kimler,  lots  25  and  26,  $10 ;  Cheney  Thomas,  lot  34, 
$20;  Asahel  Gridley,  lot  33,  $50;  William  K.  Robertson,  lot  35,  $30;  Na- 
than Low,  lots  36  and  62,  $40;  Orman  Robertson,  lot  32,  price  unknown; 
James  Latta,  lot  39,  $16;  Alvin  Barnett,  lot  46,  $20;  Frederick  Trimmer, 
lot  48,  $10;  Samuel  Durley,  lots  45  and  52,  $50;  Jesse  Frankeberger,  lot 
44,  $30 ;  John  W.  Dawson,  lot  43,  $30 ;  Seth  Baker,  lot  58,  price  unknown ; 
Caleb  Kimler,  lot  59,  $22 ;  Asahel  Gridley,  lot  60,  $52 ;  Samuel,  John  and 
William  Durley,  lot  55,  $50;  Lewis  Bunn,  lot  54,  price  unknown;  Absalom 
Funk,  lot  51,  price  unknown;  Amasa  C.  Washburn,  lot  50,  $11.50;  John 
Kimler,  lot  49,  price  unknown. 

The  three  lots  fronting  south  on  Washington  Street  between  Center 
and  Main,  together  with  the  center  lot  fronting  on  Jefferson  Street  in 
the  same  block,  were  reserved  as  the  site  for  the  court  house.  The  north- 
west and  the  northeast  corner  lots  of  this  block  were  sold  to  M.  L.  Covell 


124  History  of  McLean  County 

and  James  Latta,  respectively.  However,  at  a  subsequent  date  the  two 
lots, were  deeded  back  to  the  county  commissioners,  so  that  the  whole 
block  afterwards  became  the  property  of  the  county.  There  were  twelve 
blocks  of  six  lots  each  in  the  original  plat. 

For  seven  years  after  the  embryo  village  was  laid  out,  there  was  no 
sort  of  legal  government  other  than  that  of  the  voting  precinct  and  the 
county  government  of  three  commissioners.  Some  of  the  names  of  the 
early  commissioners  were  Seth  Baker,  Jonathan  Cheney,  Timothy  B.  Hob- 
lit,  Jesse  Havens,  Andrew  McMillan,  Joseph  Bartholomew,  William  C. 
Johnson,  William  Orendorff,  James  R.  Dawson,  Nathan  Low,  William  Con- 
away,  Israel  W.  Hall  and  Henry  I.  Clark. 

The  legal  incorporation  of  the  town  of  Bloomington  took  place  in 
1843,  when  a  majority  of  its  citizens  voted  for  incorporation.  The  gov- 
ernment was  transferred  from  the  county  commissioners  to  a  board  of 
trustees.  Matthew  H.  Hawks  was  the  first  president  according  to  records 
that  have  been  preserved,  Merrit  L.  Covell  the  first  clerk,  Wells  Colton 
attorney,  and  William  McCullough  constable.  The  board  of  trustees, 
aside  from  the  president,  were  Bailey  H.  Coffey,  John  Magoun,  James  T. 
Walton  and  William  Gillespie.  All  these  names  have  become  historic  in 
the  annals  of  Bloomington.  Bailey  H.  Coffey  became  second  president, 
and  the  board  was  made  up  of  Abram  Brokaw,  Samuel  D.  Luce,  Goodman 
Ferre  and  William  H.  Allin.  The  later  members  of  the  board  by  years 
were:  1846 — Goodman  Ferre,  president;  A.  Brokaw,  J.  E.  McClun,  Will- 
iam Piatt.  1847 — Bailey  Coffey,  president;  Joshua  Harlan,  Charles  P. 
Merriman,  William  McKisson,  Hugh  Taylor.  1848 — C.  P.  Merriman,  pres- 
ident; John  Foster,  William  G.  Thompson,  John  W.  Ewing,  George  W. 
Minier.  1849 — G.  W.  Minier,  president;  John  Foster,  W.  G.  Thompson, 
Ezekiel  Thomas,  John  W.  Ewing. 

By  the  time  the  village  of  Bloomington  had  lived  a  corporate  life  of 
four  years,  its  population  was  800,  that  is  in  the  year  1845.  It  doubled 
in  the  next  ten  years  and  in  1850  was  1,600,  while  by  the  year  1855  it  had 
reached  5,000.  This  growth  was  remarkable,  when  it  is  considered  that 
it  was  a  time  of  general  business  depression,  and  also  that  the  Mexican 
War  had  taken  place  in  the  period  mentioned. 

The  era  of  permanent  and  steady  progress  was  coincident  with  the 
building  of  railroads  to  the  thriving  new  town.  In  1850,  the  legislature 
legalized  the  incorporation  of  the  Chicago  &  St.  Louis  Railroad,  now  the 


History  of  McLean  County  125 

Chicago  &  Alton;  also  the  Illinois  Central  Railroad.  These  two  pioneer 
steam  transportation  lines  crossed  at  Bloomington,  or  more  exactly  at 
North  Bloomington,  now  Normal.  This  fact  assured  the  young  city  of  a 
future  expansion  and  substantial  growth.  There  was  a  spirit  of  progress 
and  enterprise  among  the  people  of  that  date  which  boded  much  success 
in  future  plans  for  the  enlargement  of  the  city.  Chief  among  the  reasons 
for  confidence  of  the  public  was  the  leadership  of  such  men  as  David 
Davis,  Asahel  Gridley  and  Jesse  W.  Fell,  all  of  whom  worked  and  planned 
for  the  great  future  which  they  confidently  believed  would  be  Bloom- 
ington's. 

On  Feb.  19,  1850,  the  legislature  had  passed  a  law  by  which  the  city 
of  Bloomington  should  become  specially  chartered  on  an  affirmative  vote 
of  the  people.  This  election  was  held  March  5,  and  164  voters  favored 
the  act  and  26  opposed.  Thus  the  city  became  legally  incorporated  under 
a  special  charter.  A  city  government  was  soon  afterward  elected  with 
Rev.  David  I.  Perry  as  the  first  mayor. 

The  complete  list  of  mayors  of  Bloomington  from  its  incorporation 
until  the  present  time  with  the  years  of  their  incumbency  are  as  follows 
David  I.  Perry,  1850 ;  Charles  P.  Merriman,  1851 ;  John  H.  Wickizer,  1852 
William  Wallace,  1853;  John  W.  Ewing,  1854;  Franklin  Price,  1855-56 
Amasa  J.  Merriman,  1857-58;  John  M.  Stillwell,  1859;  H.  S.  Herr,  1860 
George  W.  Parke,  1861-62;  Amasa  J.  Merriman,  1863;  Joel  Depew,  1864 
E.  H.  Rood,  1865-67;  John  M.  Stilwell,  1868-69;  T.  J.  Bunn,  1870;  B.  F 
Funk,  1871-75;  John  Reed,  1876;  T.  J.  Bunn,  1877;  E.  B.  Steere,  1878 
John  Reed,  1879 ;  E.  H.  Rood,  1880 ;  John  W.  Trotter,  1881-83 ;  B.  F.  Funk 
1884-85;  Lewis  B.  Thomas,  1886-88;  J.  R.  Mason,  1889-1890;  C.  F.  Koch 
1891;  D.  T.  Foster,  1892-94;  G.  M.  Smith,  1895;  Edgar  M.  Heafer,  1896 
D.   T.   Foster,   1897;   C.   F.   Koch,   1898-99;   Lewis   B.   Thomas,    1900-03 
George  C.  Morrison,  1904-05;  James  Neville,  May  1,  1905,  to  Aug.  17 
1906;  A.  G.  Erickson,  Aug.  17,  1906,  to  May  6,  1907;  Edward  Holland 
1907-09;  Richard  L.  Carlock,  1909-11;  Albert  L.  Moore,  1911  to  Septem- 
ber, 1913,  when  he  resigned;  James  Costello,  appointed  to  succeed  Moore 
and  elected  for  term  ending  1915;  Edward  E.  Jones,  1915  to  1923  under 
commission  form;  Frank  E.  Shorthose  first  mayor  under  restored  alder- 
manic  form,  1923. 

The  list  of  city  clerks  of  Bloomington  has  included  such  well-known 
names  as  John  M.  Scott,  afterward  judge  of  the  Illinois  Supreme  Court; 


126  History  of  McLean  County 

William  M.  Orme,  famous  in  Civil  War  times;  Harvey  Hogg,  who  was 
killed  in  battle  in  the  Civil  War;  0.  T.  Reeves,  afterward  circuit  judge; 
W.  B.  Lawrence,  afterward  many  years  police  magistrate;  Samuel  W. 
Waddle,  who  was  later  one  of  the  city's  well-known  bankers;  Major  Rolla 
N.  Evans,  *who  held  the  position  with  distinction  for  twelve  years ;  C.  C. 
Hassler,  well  known  as  soldier  and  poet. 

The  list  of  city  attorneys  also  included  many  well-known  names, 
among  them  Judge  Scott,  William  M.  Orme,  Harvey  Hogg;  Hudson  Burr, 
afterward  a  leading  financial  leader  of  the  community;  Joseph  W.  Fifer, 
afterward  Governor  of  Illinois;  Ira  J.  Broomfield,  well-known  veteran  of 
the  Civil  War;  B.  D.  Lucas,  John  T.  Lillard  and  T.  C.  Kerrick,  all  weli- 
known  lawyers;  A.  E.  DeMange,  afterward  owner  of  the  street  railway 
system;  Sain  Welty,  afterward  circuit  judge;  Jacob  P.  Lindley,  a  leading 
lawyer ;  Miles  K.  Young  and  William  R.  Bach,  both  afterward  states  attor- 
neys of  McLean  County ;  Ben  Goodheart,  who  afterward  became  leader  in 
Modern  Woodmen  affairs;  Louis  FitzHenry,  now  Federal  judge;  Richard 
M.  O'Connell,  who  served  through  the  entire  commission  form  period  and 
is  now  corporation  counsel. 

The  men  who  have  served  the  city  as  chiefs  of  police  include  Orrine 
Curtis,  William  McCullough,  Allen  Withers,  Jonathan  Glimpse,  A.  T.  Bris- 
coe, George  Bull,  W.  G.  Boyce,  Elliott  Miller,  James  Stone,  Thomas  G. 
Keogh,  J.  E.  Bentley,  E.  J.  Potts,  F.  J.  Maxwell,  R.  W.  Schroeder,  C.  W. 
Hitch,  Fred  L.  Lang,  John  J.  Jones,  Paul  Gierman. 

Bloomington  is  provided  with  a  fine  park  system.  For  many  years 
it  fared  very  poorly,  for  there  were  insufficient  funds,  but  with  the  vote 
to  levy  a  two-mill  park  tax  in  1899,  money  to  more  adequately  care  for 
the  parks  was  afterward  provided.  The  parks  are  under  a  board  of  park 
commissioners,  during  aldermanic  form  of  city  government,  but  under 
commission  form  the  commissioner  of  public  property  had  charge. 

Miller  Park,  formerly  known  as  Miller's  pasture,  was  purchased  in 
1887  from  W.  T.  Miller  for  $17,000,  of  which  sum  $5,000  was  raised  by 
private  subscriptions.  It  originally  consisted  of  39  acres,  but  later  the 
addition  of  a  wooded  tract  called  Stein's  Grove,  and  now  known  as  For- 
est Park,  has  added  much  to  its  beauty  and  spaciousness.  A  lake  com- 
prising 18  acres  was  created  by  building  of  two  dams  across  the  natural 
ravine  which  ran  through  the  park  from  northeast  to  southwest.  The 
first  dam  in  1896  created  only  a  small  pond  of  water.     Then  about  1903 


History  of  McLean  County  127 

the  contract  was  let  for  another  dam,  1,800  feet  in  length,  200  feet  in 
width  at  the  base  and  30  feet  wide  at  the  top.  A  core  of  yellow  brick  clay 
extends  down  through  the  center  of  the  dam,  24  feet  wide  at  the  top,  14 
at  the  bottom.  It  makes  the  dam  impervious  to  leakage.  The  top  of  the 
dam  forms  a  driveway  all  around  the  west  side  of  the  lake.  Bathing 
houses  and  beaches  were  built,  and  thousands  enjoy  swimming  in  the 
lake  during  the  summer.  Certain  fish  days  are  permitted,  and  boating  is 
allowed.  A  handsome  pavilion  and  animal  house,  the  latter  being  a  good- 
sized  zoo,  add  to  the  attractiveness  of  the  park.  The  county  erected  a 
$50,000  granite  monument  to  the  soldiers  of  the  wars  up  to  the  World 
War,  which  was  dedicated  in  1913.  It  contains  the  names  of  all  soldiers 
and  sailors  of  the  wars  from  this  county  up  to  that  time. 

The  park  area  of  the  city  was  doubled  by  the  purchase  in  1922  of  90 
acres  of  land  lying  west  of  Main  Street  and  east  of  Miller  Park.  The 
land  had  belonged  to  the  Meyer  family,  having  been  the  former  site  of 
the  Meyer  brewery.  It  cost  $48,000,  payable  in  installments.  Under 
Mayor  Jones,  last  mayor  of  the  commission  form,  and  Mayor  Shorthose, 
first  mayor  of  restored  aldermanic  form,  the  new  park  was  named  High- 
land Park,  and  was  much  improved.  A  free  municipal  golf  links  was  laid 
out  and  many  other  changes  for  the  good  of  the  public  were  made. 

The  city  owns  many  smaller  parks.  One  is  Franklin  Park,  given  to 
the  city  in  1856  by  David  Davis,  William  F.  Flagg  and  William  H.  Allin 
and  named  in  honor  of  Mayor  Franklin  Price.  Today  it  is  a  handsomely 
wooded  plot  in  the  midst  of  a  fine  residential  district.  Trotter  Park  is 
adjoining  the  city  water  works  and  was  named  for  Mayor  John  Trotter. 
Withers  Park,  or  Library  Park,  is  just  east  of  the  public  library,  and  is  a 
playground  for  children.  A  handsome  marble  piece  of  statuary  by  Lorado 
Taft  is  erected  there,  having  been  paid  for  by  money  left  for  that  pur- 
pose by  Georgina  Trotter.  It  represents  Indian  children  at  play  with 
animals. 

O'Neil  Park,  a  comparatively  large  tract  of  land,  lies  north  of  Chest- 
nut Street  and  west  of  Hinshaw  Avenue.  It  has  never  been  improved  to 
any  great  extent,  but  serves  as  playground  for  amateur  baseball  clubs  and 
other  sorts  of  sport  for  people  in  that  vicinity.  It  was  bought  for  $7,200 
under  Mayor  Carlock,  and  contains  twelve  acres. 

From  its  very  early  years,  Bloomington  had  had  a  volunteer  fire  de- 
partment, the  first  apparatus  being  the  famous  Prairie  Bird  fire  engine, 


128  History  of  McLean  County 

bought  in  1855.  Cisterns  located  at  convenient  points  furnished  the 
water  supply  at  first.  The  first  engine  house  was  built  at  104  North  East 
Street,  and  in  1857  the  site  of  old  engine  house  No.  1  was  purchased,  and 
an  engine  house  and  calaboose  combined  were  erected.  The  second  com- 
pany was  organizd  in  1858  and  another  hand  engine  was  bought.  Com- 
pany No.  2  occupied  rooms  at  the  corner  of  Front  and  Madison,  then  in 
the  200  block  West  Washington,  then  in  the  100  block  North  Madison. 
Various  other  changes  in  the  hand  apparatus  took  place  until  April,  1867, 
when  the  first  steam  engine  was  purchased  and  the  first  paid  firemen  were 
employed,  a  driver  and  engineer.  The  apparatus  and  personnel  of  the 
department  continued  to  expand  until  along  in  the  '90's,  when  there  were 
three  engine  houses  and  two  steam  engines  and  many  hose  and  ladder 
trucks.  After  the  disastrous  fire  of  June  19,  1900,  the  fire  department 
was  further  expanded,  until  five  houses  were  in  use:  One  on  East  Front 
in  the  200  block;  one  on  North  East,  100  block;  one  in  100  block  on  North 
Madison;  one  at  Center  and  Walnut,  one  in  the  900  block  on  South  Main; 
one  on  West  Chestnut  near  the  C.  &  A. 

During  the  commission  form  of  government,  the  whole  apparatus 
was  changed  to  motor  vehicles  and  concentrated  in  the  one  engine  house, 
on  East  Front  Street.  Henry  Mayer  was  chief  of  the  fire  department  for 
twenty-seven  years,  retiring  in  1923,  and  being  succeeded  by  Rolla  Neal, 
the  present  chief.    The  apparatus  is  now  thoroughly  up  to  date. 

The  superintendent  of  water  works  and  fire  chief  were  filled  jointly 
from  the  construction  of  the  water  works  until  1887,  and  from  then  to 
1890  were  separate.  In  1890  the  superintendency  of  the  electric  light  plant 
was  joined  to  that  of  water  superintendent.  The  following  men  have  held 
the  position :  M.  X.  Chuse,  E.  J.  Rowley,  M.  H.  Eldridge,  H.  W.  Schmidt, 
Seth  Noble,  Chester  C.  Williams. 

After  floundering  the  black  mud  of  Illinois  for  many  years,  Bloom- 
ington  undertook  in  1869  to  do  its  first  paving.  Grove  Street  from  Main 
to  the  Illinois  Central  was  paved  with  macadam,  then  Chestnut  Street 
from  the  Alton  depot  to  Center.  Pine  block  pavement  was  put  down  on 
Jefferson  Street  in  1870  under  Mayor  T.  J.  Bunn.  In  1877  the  first  brick 
pavement  in  this  city  or  in  the  United  States  was  laid  by  Napoleon  B. 
Heafer  on  the  west  side  of  the  public  square.  From  that  time  brick  pave- 
ment became  standard,  and  at  present  there  are  many  miles  of  brick  pave- 


History  of  McLean  County  129 

ment  in  Bloomington.  Many  blocks  of  asphalt  and  one  street  of  concrete 
road  are  also  laid. 

Bloomington  possesses  a  great  system  of  sewers.  The  first  sewers 
were  built  to  take  care  of  flood  waters  in  the  sloughs  on  West  Market  and 
North  Mason  Streets.  From  1876  to  1880  sewers  were  constructed  to 
take  care  of  the  drainage  of  the  south  slough.  The  great  valley  sewer, 
taking  care  of  the  whole  north*  and  northeast  sections,  was  put  down 
in  1900. 

Before  the  digging  of  the  first  coal  shaft,  known  as  the  north  shaft, 
Bloomington  had  relied  on  wells  for  a  water  supply.  The  coal  mine  was 
flooded  with  water,  which  eventually  proved  the  wrecking  of  the  mine 
for  fuel  purposes.  However,  it  discovered  the  underground  lake  or  river 
which  since  that  time  has  been  the  reliance  of  the  city  for  water  supply. 

Tests  having  failed  to  exhaust  the  flow  of  the  undergrounG  stream, 
the  city  bought  land  in  the  vicinity  of  the  coal  shaft  and  sank  a  well  and 
constructed  a  standpipe  for  pressure  purposes.  This  was  in  1874.  The 
first  plant  was  completed  in  1875  under  Mayor  Ben  F.  Funic.  The  one 
large  well  supplied  the  city  for  28  years,  and  then  a  number  of  small  tube 
wells  were  sunk  as  a  substitute  for  the  big  well.  Under  Mayor  James  S. 
Neville  a  10,000,000  gallon  concrete  reservoir  was  built,  into  which  the 
streams  from  the  wells  were  pumped.  This  cost  about  $30,000,  and  more 
than  justified  its  cost. 

But  in  spite  of  all,  occasional  dry  seasons  would  bring  the  visible 
supply  so  near  to  exhaustion  that  the  city  was  constantly  threatened  with 
water  famine  in  summer  or  autumn.  In  1909,  R.  L.  Carlock  was  elected 
mayor  on  a  platform  of  a  more  suitable  water  supply.  On  his  accession, 
the  council  submitted  to  the  people  a  vote  on  a  bond  issue  of  $150,000  for 
water  works  extension.  The  bonds  were  voted,  and  the  money  was  wisely 
spent  in  complete  rejuvenation  of  the  water  works.  Five  circular  well 
pits  were  dug,  and  below  them  large  pipes  were  sunk  into  the  depths  of 
the  gravel  beds,  through  which  fed  the  stream.  Centrifugal  pumps  were 
put  at  work  in  the  bottom  of  each  well  pit,  thus  raising  the  water  into 
pipes,  thence  emptied  into  the  reservoir.  This  system  was  a  great  im- 
provement over  the  old  one,  and  justified  the  expenditures. 

But  when  the  commission  form  of  government  was  on,  the  commis- 
sioner of  water  works,  John  G.  Welch,  advocated  a  new  and  supplemental 
supply  aside  from  the  one  from  which  the  city  had  drawn  its  supply  for 

(7) 


130  History  of  McLean  County 

30  years.  Accordingly  a  tract  of  10  acres  was  bought  a  mile  west  of  the 
present  plant  and  located  on  another  lay  of  ground.  Here  test  wells  were 
sunk,  showing  a  remarkable  supply  of  water  from  an  entirely  different 
vein.  Three  wells  were  then  sunk  and  a  covered  reservoir  built.  Pump- 
ing machinery  was  added,  and  from  the  start  the  plant  produced  a  daily 
supply  almost  as  large  as  at  the  old  plant.  The  city  now  has  practically 
two  independent  sources  of  supply,  with  machinery  to  work  either  or 
both  as  occasion  requires.  The  daily  capacity  of  the  two  plants  is  about 
three  times  the  requirements  of  the  whole  city  in  ordinary  circumstances. 

Since  1890,  the  city  of  Bloomington  has  owned  and  operated  its  own 
electric  light  plant.  Prior  to  that  a  private  corporation,  the  Blooming- 
ton  Electric  Light  Company,  had  sold  the  citjr  its  current  for  lights.  The 
electric  light  plant  is  in  the  same  building  as  the  parent  water  works, 
thus  inducing  economy  of  operation.  The  equipment  of  the  plant  has  cost 
upward  of  $150,000  in  its  various  stages.  The  city  supplies  light  for 
streets  and  public  buildings,  but  does  not  sell  current  on  a  commercial 
basis.  Some  years  ago,  William  R.  Bach,  then  city  attorney,  estimated 
the  yearly  cost  to  the  city  at  $65.37  for  each  street  light,  which  had  been 
reduced  from  $103  per  light  when  the  plant  was  made  a  municipal  plant. 

A  modern  experiment  in  an  improved  form  of  municipal  government 
was  carried  on  in  Bloomington  between  the  years  1915  and  1923.  It  was 
the  adoption  of  what  was  called  commission  form  of  city  government,  to 
replace  the  older  form  of  management  by  a  board  of  aldermen,  which  had 
been  in  vogue  since  the  organization  of  the  city  under  the  general  law  in 
1897.  The  agitation  for  the  adoption  of  the  commission  form  was  carried 
on  during  the  year  1913-14,  it  being  claimed  by  its  advocates  that  a  gov- 
ernment composed  of  five  commissioners  would  be  more  efficient  than  the 
larger  body  of  fourteen  aldermen  which  up  to  that  time  had  had  control 
of  the  city. 

The  election  to  determine  whether  the  citizens  desired  the  new  form 
of  government  was  held  on  April  6,  1914,  at  which  time  the  vote  for  and 
against  the  proposed  change  stood  as  follows:  For  commission  form, 
8,970;  against,  3,974.  Majority  for  change,  4,996.  It  required  a  year  to 
work  out  the  details  of  the  change.  In  the  spring  of  the  year  1915,  the 
primaries  were  held  to  choose  eight  nominees  for  commissioners  and  two 
nominees  for  mayor.  These  ten  names  were  then  placed  on  a  ballot  for 
the  election,  and  from  them  was  elected  one  mayor  and  four  commission- 


History  of  McLean  County  131 

ers.  At  the  primaries  there  were  49  candidates  for  nomination,  and  from 
these  the  following  were  chosen  for  mayor:  Edward  E.  Jones  and  John 
W.  Rodgers;  and  for  commissioners  the  following  eight  names:  Edward 
R.  Morgan,  R.  L.  Carlock,  John  F.  Anderson,  Mrs.  Helen  Clarke  McCurdy, 
George  W.  Monroe,  Alex  G.  Erickson,  Louis  F.  Rittmiller  and  W.  H.  Ker- 
rick.  The  election  was  held  on  April  6,  and  E.  E.  Jones  was  chosen  mayor 
and  the  four  commissioners  were  E.  R.  Morgan,  R.  L.  Carlock,  John  F. 
Anderson  and  A.  G.  Erickson. 

The  council  was  organized  the  first  of  May,  with  the  following  assign- 
ment of  departments:  E.  E.  Jones,  mayor  and  commissioner  of  public 
affairs ;  Edward  R.  Morgan,  commissioner  of  accounts  and  finances ;  A.  G. 
Erickson,  commissioner  of  public  health  and  safety;  John  F.  Anderson, 
commissioner  of  streets  and  public  improvements;  R.  L.  Carlock,  commis- 
sioner of  public  property. 

The  above  five  members  composed  the  city  council  for  the  four  years 
from  1915  to  1919,  inclusive.  In  the  latter  year  the  second  election  was 
held.  There  were  17  candidates  in  the  primaries  for  the  10  positions  on 
the  ticket.  E.  E.  Jones  was  again  nominated  for  mayor,  and  his  opponent 
was  John  B.  Lennon.  The  men  nominated  for  commissioners  were  J.  J. 
Nevin,  L.  J.  Salch,  A.  G.  Erickson,  E.  R.  Morgan,  John  F.  Anderson,  John 
G.  Welch,  Frank  J.  Morgan,  and  George  J.  Meyers.  All  the  sitting  mem- 
bers of  the  council  were  renominated  except  R.  L.  Carlock,  whose  place 
on  the 'ballot  was  taken  by  John  G.  Welch.  In  the  succeeding  campaign, 
Lennon  for  mayor  and  the  following  candidates  for  commissioner:  Nevin, 
Salch,  Meyers  and  Frank  Morgan,  ran  as  a  Labor  ticket,  working  as  a 
whole  against  the  other  candidates  known  as  the  administration  ticket. 
In  the  election,  Jones  was  elected  mayor  by  286  majority  over  Lennon, 
and  the  whole  "administration  ticket"  for  commissioners  were  elected, 
E.  R.  Morgan,  Welch,  Anderson  and  Erickson. 

This  form  of  administration  continued  for  another  four  years  from 
from  1919,  and  in  the  summer  of  1922  a  petition  was  circulated  for  call- 
ing an  election  to  revert  back  to  the  aldermanic  form  of  government. 
R.  M.  O'Connell  served  as  corporation  counsel  during  the  entire  commis- 
sion form  period. 

The  commission  form  went  out  of  existence  in  the  spring  of  1923, 
when  the  first  mayor  and  board  of  aldermen  under  the  returned  aider- 
manic  form  were  elected.     The  commission  form  had  existed  for  eight 


132  History  of  McLean  County 

years,  during  which  conditions  in  general  were  much  disturbed  owing  to 
the  World  War  and  its  resultant  upheavals.  However,  it  was  generally 
considered  that  much  progress  was  accomplished  during  the  eight  years 
of  commission  form.  In  the  second  term  of  four  years,  the  only  change 
in  departments  was  that  in  the  public  property  department,  where  John 
G.  Welch  succeeded  R.  L.  Carlock,  retired. 

In  the  summer  of  1922  an  agitation  was  started  for  the  purpose  of 
returning  to  the  former  aldermanic  form  of  government,  abolishing  the 
city  commission.  This  was  brought  to  a  head  in  a  petition  signed  by  vot- 
ers which  was  submitted  to  the  city  council  asking  that  an  election  on 
this  question  be  held.  Corporation  counsel  having  examined  the  petition 
the  number  of  signatures  was  found  to  be  sufficient  and  the  election  was 
held  July  11.  It  was  at  the  period  of  the  great  railroad  shop  strike,  and 
many  working  men  of  the  city  were  unemployed.  This  in  turn  gave  rise 
to  much  general  discontent  with  existing  conditions.  The  vote  cast  at 
the  election  was  small,  only  5,000  of  the  14,000  qualified  voters  of  the  city 
having  cast  their  ballot.  The  verdict,  however,  was  for  abolishing  the 
commission  form,  the  vote  standing  as  follows:  For  aldermanic  form, 
2,846;  for  commission  form,  2,149.  Majority  for  change,  697.  The  total 
vote  cast  in  the  election  was  very  light,  being  less  than  5,000  out  of  the 
total  number  of  14,000  registered  voters. 

The  actual  change  in  the  form  of  the  city  government  did  not  take 
place  until  the  following  spring,  in  April,  1923.  The  candidates  for  mayor 
under  the  new  regime  were  Frank  E.  Shorthose,  a  veteran  Alton  engi- 
neer, and  Emerson  J.  Gilmore,  a  business  man.  Shorthose  ran  on  the 
Republican  ticket,  Gilmore  on  the  Democratic.  Shorthose  was  elected  by 
a  vote  of  5,222  to  1,800  for  Gilmore. 

The  aldermen  elected  in  the  several  wards  of  the  city  at  this  first 
election  were  as  follows:  First  ward,  DeWitt  G.  Gray  and  Ralph  B. 
Greene;  second  ward,  Val  Simshauser  and  Paul  Sholz;  third  ward,  M.  B. 
Hayes  and  Frank  H.  Blose;  fourth  ward,  G.  Noble  Paxton  and  Charles  H. 
Kurtz;  fifth  ward,  Richard  Barry  and  Frank  J.  Donovan;  sixth  ward, 
I.  C.  Ryburn  and  Fred  Beckman;  seventh  ward,  Charles  H.  Lawyer  and 
John  G.  Larson.  At  the  same  election,  Charles  T.  Evans  was  elected  su-/ 
perintendent  of  streets  and  James  H.  Kimes,  city  treasurer. 

The  new  city  administration  met  and  organized  in  May,  1923,  and 
was  running  along  smoothly  and  with  general  satisfaction,  when  Mayor 


History  of  McLean  County  133 

Shorthose  was  taken  sick  and  died  on  the  night  of  Jan.  4,  1924.  His  fu- 
neral at  the  Consistory  on  Jan.  7  was  one  of  the  largest  ever  held  in  the 
city.  Frank  H.  Blouse,  who  had  been  elected  acting  mayor  by  the  council, 
took  charge  of  the  executive  office  and  carried  on  the  work  of  mayor  until 
a  successor  was  elected  for  Mayor  Shorthose. 


CHAPTER  VII. 


GREAT  FIRE  OF  1900. 


ORIGIN  IN  B.  S.  GREEN  BUILDING— RAPID  SPREAD — SCOPE  OP"  DESTRUCTION — 
COURTHOUSE — FIRE  FIGHTERS  FROM  PEORIA  AND  SPRINGFIELD — BUILD- 
INGS BURNED — LOSS— REBUILDING. 

There  is  no  doubt  that  the  dividing  line  between  the  Bloomington  of 
the  olden  days  and  the  Bloomington  of  the  modern  era  was  that  night  and 
day  in  June,  1900,  when  fire  swept  away  the  heart  of  the  business  section 
of  the  city  and  gave  room  and  occasion  for  the  rebuilding  of  a  retail  dis- 
trict which  has  no  parallels  in  the  country  for  a  city  of  the  size. 

It  was  20  minutes  past  midnight  on  June  19,  1900,  that  an  alarm  of 
fire  was  turned  in  from  box  31,  located  in  front  of  the  city  hall,  at  the 
corner  of  Monroe  and  East  Streets.  The  fire  was  located  in  the  basement 
of  the  B.  S.  Green  building,  at  that  time  occupied  by  the  Model  Laundry. 
The  fire  apparently  originated  in  this  part  of  the  building.  Officer  Bren- 
nan  first  noticed  the  flames  and  rang  in  the  alarm.  Within  a  few  min- 
utes after  the  alarm  the  whole  fire  fighting  force  was  on  the  scene,  but 
in  spite  of  their  efforts  the  flames  spread  from  the  laundry  quarters  to 
the  main  portion  of  the  B.  S.  Green  building,  and  within  20  minutes  that 
structure  was  clearly  doomed. 

Fanned  by  a  strong  northeast  wind,  the  fire  threatened  to  clear  the 
alley  to  the  west  and  take  in  the  George  Brand  furniture  store  and  other 
structures  facing  on  Main  Street  in  the  300  block.  Efforts  of  the  fire- 
men were  confined  at  this  time  to  trying  to  check  the  advance  of  flames 
westward,  but  without  avail.  With  the  many  streams  of  water  drawing 
from  the  mains  and  lessening  the  pressure,  and  with  the  strong  wind 

134 


History  of  McLean  County  135 

fanning  the  flame  the  fire  got  beyond  control,  and  soon  the  whole  block 
bounded  by  Main,  East,  Jefferson  and  Monroe  was  in  flame,  except  the 
postoffice,  which  was  saved  by  its  isolated  position. 

Terrible  as  was  the  destruction  up  to  this  time,  the  story  was  but 
half  told.  The  fire  leaped  across  Main  Street  to  the  west  and  across  Jef- 
ferson Street  to  the  south,  and  before  the  dawning  of  daylight  these  two 
more  blocks  were  in  flames  at  several  points.  The  tall  cupola  of  the  Gries- 
heim  Building  was  first  to  ignite  to  the  south,  and  to  the  west  the  R.  C. 
Rogers  Building,  the  old  Ark,  the  Corn  Belt  Drug  Store,  C.  W.  Klemm's 
Store,  The  McLean  County  Coal  Company  offices,  the  Stephen  Smith's 
Store,  New  York  Store,  Wilcox  Bros.,  and  other  occupants  of  stores  and 
offices  rapidly  in  succession  yielded  up  to  the  onrushing  conflagration. 
To  the  south,  the  Griesheim  Building,  the  Cole  Bros.  Building,  the  Metro- 
pole,  the  G.  H.  Read,  and  the  State  National  Bank  in  turn  fell  victims  of 
the  devouring  flames. 

Can  the  Court  House  be  saved?  This  question  was  upon  the  lips  of 
the  watching  crowds  as  the  fire  leaped  from  two  sides  of  the  county 
building.  Apparently  the  heat  was  too  great  for  even  the  stone  walls, 
and  in  time  the  fire  ignited  the  dome  and  then  ate  its  way  down  into  the 
upper  stories.  North  and  east  the  fire  seemed  to  be  definitely  checked 
at  Monroe  and  East  Streets,  but  it  was  uncertain  how  far  it  might  spread 
to  the  south  and  west.  The  clock  in  the  dome  struck  four  o'clock,  and 
soon  afterward  the  hands  stopped  moving,  the  heat  having  disorganized 
the  machinery  and  put  an  end  to  the  clock's  career.  Down  into  the  body 
of  the  Court  House  crept  the  fire,  and  soon  the  law  library  with  its  10,000 
volumes,  worth  $50,000,  was  ruined.  Some  of  the  records  of  the  circuit 
clerk's  office  on  the  second  floor  were  damaged,  but  luckily  the  fire  stopped 
before  it  got  down  to  the  first  floor,  with  its  valuable  records  in  the  county 
clerk's  recorder's  and  county  treasurer's  office. 

The  open  space  around  the  Court  House  impeded  the  spread  of  the 
flames  in  that  direction,  but  the  fire  leaped  across  Center  Street  and  took 
the  Windsor  Hotel  and  part  of  the  Fervert  Building.  It  also  got  over 
Jefferson  west  of  the  Court  House  and  attacked  the  Braley  Building. 

It  was  shortly  after  two  o'clock  in  the  morning  that  Mayor  Thomas, 
Chief  Henry  Mayer  and  other  city  officials  came  to  the  conclusion  that  a 
hurry  call  for  help  must  be  sent  out  to  other  cities  if  any  of  the  business 
district  of  Bloomington  was  to  be  saved.    Peoria  and  Springfield  answered 


136  History  of  McLean  County 

this  call.  A  detachment  of  the  Peoria  fire  department,  with  engine  and 
several  firemen,  made  the  run  by  special  train  to  this  city  in  58  minutes, 
arriving  in  Bloomington  at  5:10.  Peoria  was  stationed  at  Jefferson  and 
Center  Streets,  and  the  Springfield  detachment  of  firemen,  who  arrived 
soon  afterward,  were  stationed  at  Washington  and  Madison,  the  fire  hav- 
ing by  that  time  eaten  well  into  the  middle  of  the  block  west  of  the  Court 
House. 

That  these  timely  arrivals  of  additional  fighting  forces  had  their 
effect  in  stopping  the  fire,  there  is  no  doubt.  It  was  about  seven  o'clock 
in  the  morning  that  the  fire  was  definitely  under  control.  At  that  time  it 
had  burned  most  of  the  block  bounded  by  Center,  Jefferson,  Monroe  and 
Madison,  and  had  eaten  out  a  jagged  corner  of  the  block  bounded  by 
Center,  Washington,  Madison  and  Jefferson.  The  upper  part  of  the  Court 
House  was  in  ruins,  and  the  fire  had  been  stopped  at  Washington  Street 
south  of  the  Odd  Fellows  Building,  although  the  heat  had  damaged  the 
First  National  Bank,  on  the  south  side  of  Washington  Street.  All  the 
burned  over  district  was  a  chaos  of  broken  walls,  smouldering  piles,  tan- 
gled wires  and  blockaded  streets.  Such  a  spectacle  had  never  before 
greeted  the  dawn  of  a  morning  in  the  history  of  Bloomington.  Follow- 
ing is  the  complete  list  of  the  buildings  and  the  total  losses  on  buildings 
and  contents: 

Griesheim  building,  Cole  Bros,  building  and  store,  Meyer  &  Wochner 
building,  George  P.  Davis  building,  Mrs.  J.  H.  Merrick  building,  G.  H. 
Read  &  Bro.  building,  Odd  Fellows  building,  Livingston  Estate  building, 
Eagle  block,  A.  Brokaw  barn,  Mrs.  Swayne's  Durley  building,  Jeff  Burke 
building,  McGregor  Estate  building,  Heafer-McGregor  building,  R.  F.  and 
W.  L.  Evans  building,  L.  H.  Weldon  building,  George  Brand  building, 
Model  Laundry  building,  B.  S.  Green  building,  Hayes  Estate  building, 
J.  W.  Evans  Estate  building,  C.  W.  Klemm  building,  Thompson  building. 
Marble  building,  Braley  building,  Stephen  Smith  building,  Phoenix  Hotel, 
Belle  Plumb  building,  Hudson  Burr  building,  Samuel  Thompson  building 
Lyman  Graham  building,  Sans  building,  Dr.  Schroeder  building,  0.  Helbig 
building,  Chris  Frevert  building,  Windsor  Hotel,  Mahaffey  barn,  Bruner 
building,  J.  W.  Riggs  building,  Braley  building,  Withers  Estate  building, 
Stepp  building,  I.  H.  Johnson  building,  James  Stevenson  building,  Spring- 
baum    building,    First    National    Bank    damage,    I.    Livingston    building, 


History  of  McLean  County  137 

George  Hanna  building,  Court  House,  Second  Presbyterian  Church  dam- 
age, law  library  and  many  miscellaneous  losses. 

Grand  total  of  losses  $2,032,000.    Grand  total  of  insurance,  $864,238. 

The  ashes  of  the  business  district  of  the  fire  of  June  19,  1900,  had  not 
yet  cooled,  and  streams  of  water  from  several  fire  engines  were  still  pour- 
ing upon  the  smoking  embers,  when  the  owners  and  managers  of  the  vari- 
ous establishments  had  already  begun  to  make  plans  for  getting  back  into 
business  and  to  rebuild  the  burned  district  in  better  shape  than  it  ever 
was  before.  Signs  hurriedly  painted  were  stuck  up  at  many  points  of  the 
smoking  ruins,  telling  the  temporary  locations  of  the  different  business 
concerns.  Meantime  architects  and  contractors  were  besieged  with  own- 
ers of  the  burned  buildings  to  get  plans  quickly  made  and  the  materials 
on  hand  for  constructing  new  buildings  where  the  old  had  stood.  Sites 
of  the  burned  structures  were  cleared  at  once  in  many  cases,  and  enlarged 
and  modernized  structures  were  planned  for  these  sites. 

It  is  impossible  to  tell  the  story  in  detail  of  the  rebuilding  of  the 
burned  district  of  the  city.  Suffice  it  to  say  that  when  the  first  anniver- 
sary of  the  great  fire  rolled  round,  a  large  proportion  of  the  district  had 
new  structures  already  completed  or  at  least  under  way. 

The  fire  having  occurred  almost  at  the  middle  of  the  building  season, 
it  behooved  the  owners  of  the  buildings  to  get  quick  action  if  they  were 
to  get  their  new  structures  ready  for  occupancy  by  the  coming  of  winter. 

In  honor  of  the  energy  and  optimism  shown  by  the  business  men  in 
their  active  working  in  rebuilding,  the  citizens  planned  a  jubilee  celebra- 
tion for  June  19,  1901,  the  first  anniversary  of  the  fire.  At  that'  time 
over  $1,300,000  had  already  been  expended  for  new  structures. 

The  Court  House  which  had  stood  as  the  seat  of  justice  in  the  county 
since  1868,  was  badly  damaged  by  the  fire.  On  the  day  following  the 
conflagration,  the  board  of  supervisors  met  in  special  session  to  take  ac- 
tion on  the  repair  or  rebuilding  of  the  Court  House.  A  contract  was  Jet 
on  July  6  for  the  tearing  down  of  the  dome  and  upper  stories.  This  work 
was  completed  in  August,  and  by  that  time  it  was  seen  that  the  whole 
structure  was  too  much  damaged  to  be  rebuilt  economically.  After  some 
discussion,  the  contract  was  let  to  the  Peoria  Stone  and  Marble  Works  to 
complete  the  demolition,  and  this  same  firm  secured  the  contract  to  erect 
the  building.     How  the  building  was  to  be  paid  for  was  one  of  the  big 


138  History  of  McLean  County 

problems.  At  a  meeting  of  the  board  of  supervisors  on  October  31,  at 
which  it  was  decided  to  submit  to  the  voters  of  the  county  at  the  Novem- 
ber election  the  proposition  of  a  bond  issue  of  $400,000  to  pay  for  the  new 
Court  House.  The  bonds  were  to  run  five  years.  The  voters  gave  a  large 
affirmative  majority  for  the  bonds,  and  this  end  of  the  enterprise  was 
secured. 

The  first  stone  of  the  Court  House  was  laid  on  Dec.  28,  1900.  The 
lower  walls  had  been  completed  to  the  point  of  laying  the  corner  stone, 
and  this  ceremony  was  held  on  May  22,  1901.  There  was  a  grand  parade 
of  military  and  civic  bodies,  and  these  gathered  at  the  Court  House,  with 
a  great  crowd  of  the  civilian  population.  The  address  of  the  day  was 
made  by  Grand  Master  Hitchcock  of  the  Illinois  Grand  Lodge  of  the  An- 
cient Free  and  Accepted  Masons.  The  Court  House  was  completed  and 
dedicated  in  the  summer  of  1902. 

At  the  end  of  the  first  year,  the  following  new  buildings  had  been 
completed  or  were  under  course  of  construction: 

Court  House — cost  in  round  numbers — $400,000;  New  Illinois  Hotel, 
$115,000;  Griesheim  building,  $105,000;  Corn  Belt  Bank  building,  $70,000; 
C.  W.  Klemm  building,  $30,000 ;  Livingston-Strouse  building,  $25,000 ;  Mc- 
Gregor building,  $15,000;  Burr  building,  $6,000;  Belle  Plumb  building, 
$5,000;  Cole  Bros,  building,  $30,000;  McLean  Co.  Coal  Co.,  $15,000;  Gra- 
ham building,  $4,000 ;  Durley  building,  $65,000 ;  Brand  building,  $20,000 ; 
Winter  building,  $7,000;  Evans  Estate  building,  $25,000;  Marble-Thomp- 
son building,  $30,000;  Odd  Fellows  building,  $30,000;  Stephen  Smith's 
Sons  building,  $35,000;  Weldon  building,  $15,000;  Metropole  Hotel,  $35,- 
000 ;  Unity  building,  $80,000 ;  B.  S.  Green  building,  $25,000 ;  Braley  build- 
ing, $15,000;  Model  Laundry  building,  $10,000;  Braley-Field  building, 
$14,000;  Jeffry  Burke  building,  $12,000;  Frevert  building,  $15,500;  Col. 
Smith  building,  $10,000;  repairs  made  necessary  by  fire,  $20,000;  other 
new  business  houses,  $35,000. 

Grand  total  for  first  year's  buildings,  $1,304,500. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 


MODERN  NORMAL. 


BUILT  AROUND  UNIVERSITY— EARLY  NURSERIES— HORSE  BUSINESS — ERA  OF 
IMPROVEMENT — CITY  OFFICIALS — WOMEN'S  IMPROVEMENT  LEAGUE— COM- 
MERCIAL CLUB — STORES — COUNTRY  CLUB. 

The  development  of  the  town  of  Normal  from  a  straggling  village 
into  a  modern  little  city  with  every  convenience  and  facility  of  many  a 
larger  place,  may  be  roughly  traced  back  to  a  period  of  25  years  ago.  At 
that  time  began  the  era  of  building  of  pavements,  concrete  sidewalks  and 
modern  systems  of  sewerage  disposal.  This  development  had  its  reflex 
effect  upon  property  values  in  Normal,  and  thus  added  to  the  revenues 
with  which  to  continue  and  expand  this  spirit  of  development. 

It  may  be  worth  while  to  attempt  a  picture  of  Normal  in  the  earlier 
days  of  its  existence  as  a  corporation.  It  was  of  course  built  up  around 
the  Normal  University,  and  its  whole  sustenance  in  fact  was  drawn  from 
the  students  of  that  institution  and  those  who  indirectly  depended  upon 
it.  The  student  populations  were  housed  in  many  "clubs,"  or  co-opera- 
tive boarding  houses,  where  some  property  owner,  often  a  woman,  would 
take  a  number  of  students  for  boarding  and  rooming  them.  The  club 
commissary  would  be  in  charge  of  a  steward  who  had  charge  of  the  buy- 
ing of  provisions  and  collecting  from  each  member  of  the  club  his  or  her 
proportionate  share  of  the  cost  of  the  raw  materials.  The  woman  who 
owned  the  house  would  do  the  cooking  and  serving  of  the  meals  for  an 
agreed  upon  consideration. 

Other  than  the  Normal  University  and  the  life  centering  around  it, 
for  the  first  25  years  of  the  town's  history,  there  were  principally  two 

139 


140  History  of  McLean  County 

other  interests  in  which  greater  or  less  numbers  of  men  and  their  fami- 
lies depended  for  their  livelihood.  These  were  the  nurseries  and  the  horse 
business.  The  nurseries  were  numerous,  and  at  one  time  Normal  as  a 
nursery  center  had  few  rivals  in  the  United  States,  at  least  in  the  mid- 
dle west.  Hundreds  of  acres  surrounding  the  town  proper  were  set  out 
in  nursery  stock,  and  during  the  two  main  shipping  months  of  the  year, 
April  and  October,  the  nursery  grounds  and  packing  houses  were  exceed- 
ingly busy  places,  employing  scores  of  men  in  getting  the  stock  from  the 
grounds  and  packing  it  for  shipment  to  all  parts  of  the  country.  In  later 
years,  the  nursery  business  declined  to  some  extent,  owing  to  widespread 
competition,  but  there  are  still  several  nurseries  in  and  near  Normal 
which  have  a  flourishing  business.  The  oldest  of  these  is  the  Augustine 
nursery,  which  has  been  in  successful  operation  for  nearly  a  half  century. 
The  very  earliest  nursery  in  this  vicinity  was  run  by  Nelson  Buck,  and 
Jesse  W.  Fell,  with  his  brothers,  Joshua,  Thomas,  Kersey  and  Robert, 
managed  several  acres  of  nursery  grounds.  But  the  man  best  known  in 
the  nursery  history  of  McLean  County  was  Franklin  K.  Phoenix,  who  ran 
a  large  nursery  for  20  years  prior  to  the  '70's.  Then  there  were  Cyrus 
W.  Overman,  W.  H.  Mann,  and  Dr.  H.  Schroeder.  Jesse  W.  Fell  was  noted 
for  his  penchant  for  planting  trees,  and  his  habit  made  Normal  one  of 
the  best  shaded  towns  in  the  country,  a  true  atmosphere  for  scholastic 
population. 

The  other  business  enterprise  which  grew  up  alongside  of  the  educa- 
tional center  of  Normal  was  that  of  the  importing,  breeding  and  dealing 
in  heavy  horses.  This  business  was  of  slow  growth,  like  many  others, 
but  when  it  had  attained  its  peak  the  town  of  Normal  became  the  draft 
horse  center  of  the  state  if  not  of  the  middle  west.  There  were  several 
firms  and  individuals  who  engaged  in  the  trade  to  the  extent  of  hundreds 
of  thousands  of  dollars  each  year.  The  principal  men  who  made  Normal 
famous  as  a  horse  center  were  the  Dillons.  There  were  several  of  the  Dil- 
lon brothers,  and  all  had  interests  in  the  business.  There  was  Isaiah, 
Levi,  Doff  and  Melvin  Dillon,  who  for  25  years  maintained  great  barns 
filled  with  heavy  draft  horses  imported  direct  from  France  and  England 
or  other  European  countries,  or  bred  from  the  horses  which  they  had  im- 
ported. The  plan  on  which  they  worked  was  to  go  to  Europe  and  buy 
up  several  scores  of  fine  draft  animals  of  the  Percheron,  Clydesdale, 
Norman  or  Belgian  stock,  then  ship  them  here  to  their  barns,  where  they 


History  of  McLean  County  141 

were  kept  until  certain  specified  dates,  when  great  auction  sales  of  the 
horses  would  be  held.  These  sales  were  usually  held  in  February,  or  per- 
haps again  in  the  autumn.  Buyers  would  come  here  from  all  parts  of  the 
country,  and  the  competitive  bidding  for  the  animals  was-  spirited  and 
profitable  for  the  sellers.  For  several  days  after  each  of  these  sales,  the 
outgoing  freight  trains  would  contain  carloads  of  horses  bought  here  and 
shipped  to  distant  points. 

The  town  of  Normal  in  these  days  of  the  early  university,  of  the  first 
nurseries  and  the  horse  barns,  was  an  overgrown  village  with  but  meager 
physical  improvements.  It  had  no  electric  lights,  practically  no  sewer- 
age system,  no  street  pavements,  and  was  connected  with  Bloomington 
by  a  crude  railway  with  dummy  engines  drawing  small  cars,  then  by 
mules  as  the  locomotive  power.  Long  after  street  paving  and  sewerage 
systems  in  Bloomington  had  been  constructed  on  modern  lines,  Normal 
was  still  floundering  in  the  mud.  The  first  use  of  electricity  in  Normal 
was  that  from  a  home-made  plant  of  small  capacity  and  meager  equip- 
ment. This  plant  was  destroyed  by  an  explosion  and  fire,  and  afterward 
the  town  concluded  to  buy  its  current  from  the  Bloomington  &  Normal 
Electric  Lighting  Company. 

The  municipal  affairs  of  the  town  had  got  into  a  rut,  this  condition 
having  resulted  from  many  years  of  loose  financing  in  which  each  year 
the  expenditures  were  greater  than  the  income.  There  was  no  chance 
of  the  town  undertaking  a  list  of  improvements  such  as  pavement  and 
sewer  building  unless  relief  could  be  secured  from  this  overhanging  debt. 

Beginning  with  the  year  1900,  we  will  trace  the  history  of  the  town 
administration  and  try  to  outline  the  changes  which  took  place  and  which 
marked  the  modern  era  in  Normal.  The  names  of  two  men  who  were 
mayors  at  this  period  stand  out  prominently:  Otto  Seibert,  who  was  re- 
elected mayor  in  1900,  had  already  served  two  terms.  With  him  were 
elected  as  councilmen  Edward  Metcalf,  James  Hoselton,  George  H.  Coen, 
R.  M.  Huffington  and  Charles  J.  Cole.  Mayor  Seibert  was  re-elected  each 
year  afterward  up  to  and  including  1904.  The  next  council  contained  the 
same  men,  with  the  exception  of  Thomas  Sylvester,  who  succeeded  Huf- 
fington. The  following  year,  1902,  new  members  of  the  council  were 
elected  in  the  persons  of  D.  C.  Smitson,  Frank  Custer  and  George  War- 
ner, Jr.  In  1903  a  new  council  came  in,  composed  of  R.  M.  Huffington, 
E.  G.  Sage,  J.  W.  Evans,  J.  K.  McGowan  and  Charles  Shadle.     The  last 


142  History  of  McLean  County 

council  that  served  with  Mayor  Seibert  was  composed  of  Messrs.  Metcalf, 
Hoselton,  Huffington,  Shadle  and  J.  W.  Evans.  Mayor  Seibert  had  been 
a  business  man  in  Normal  for  many  years,  and  he  might  have  been  re- 
elected as  mayor  for  still  further  terms  had  he  not  voluntarily  retired. 
The  hold-over  deficit  which  had  been  the  bane  of  many  council  still  hung 
on  at  this  period. 

A  change  in  the  mayor's  tenure  of  office,  and  also  of  the  councilmen, 
took  place  at  this  time  under  a  new  state  law,  they  being  elected  for  two 
years  instead  of  one.  Edward  J.  Metcalf  was  the  first  mayor  elected 
under  the  two-year  rule,  and  with  him  the  council  were  J.  C.  Hoselton, 
R.  M.  Huffington,  J.  W.  Evans,  L.  A.  Hinton  and  J.  E.  Crew.  The  same 
council  served  under  the  second  year  of  Mayor  Metcalf,  except  that  J.  H. 
Riley  was  elected  to  succeed  Evans. 

The  year  1907  was  an  important  one  in  the  history  of  modern  Nor- 
mal, for  that  year  the  citizens  organized  to  elect  a  council  that  they 
thought  would  start  the  town  on  a  new  era.  0.  L.  Manchester,  professor 
of  economics  in  the  Normal  University,  was  put  up  for  mayor,  with  the 
backing  of  the  Normal  Improvement  Association,  an  organization  of  pro- 
gressive citizens.  He  was  elected,  and  along  with  him  were  elected  as 
councilmen,  A.  J.  Bill,  0.  R.  Ernst,  F.  E.  Putnam,  Prof.  James  Adams 
and  Prof.  F.  D.  Barber.  This  administration  tackled  the  problem  of  the 
old  deficit  in  city  finances.  This  deficit  amounted  to  about  $14,000,  or 
about  the  whole  municipal  income  from  one  year's  taxes.  After  looking 
over  the  situation,  the  council  took  the  advice  of  Jacob  P.  Lindley,  the 
town's  attorney,  and  decided  to  convert  this  floating  debt  into  a  bonded 
indebtedness.  It  could  not  be  done  the  first  year,  and  in  fact  it  was  not 
until  1912  that  the  question  of  issuing  bonds  for  this  sum  was  put  up 
to  the  people  at  the  election.  It  readily  carried,  however,  for  the  vote  in 
favor  of  the  bonds  was  179,  and  against,  83.  The  old  debt  was  covered 
by  the  bonds,  and  in  due  time  the  bonds  were  paid  off  by  increased  assess- 
ments, and  thus  the  "hoodoo  debt"  which  had  been  hanging  over  the  city 
for  many  years  was  taken  care  of.  The  Manchester  administration  also 
sought  out  properties  which  had  previously  escaped  taxation,  and  in  this 
way  added  considerable  to  the  city's  income. 

Mayor  Manchester  and  his  progressive  council  had  not  been  in  office 
long  before  they  set  about  on  a  program  of  physical  improvements.  They 
outlined  a  set  of  proposed  street  pavements  which  covered  most  of  the 


History  of  McLean  County  143 

principal  streets  of  the  city.  Prior  to  that  time  there  were  only  two 
blocks  of  brick  pavement  in  the  town,  they  being  on  Beaufort  and  North, 
in  the  business  section.  The  people  seemed  to  have  confidence  in  the 
administration,  for  they  backed  the  pavement  program.  Not  that  all 
the  councilmen  were  re-elected,  for  the  year  1908  saw  a  whole  new  coun- 
cil elected  in  the  persons  of  George  W.  Bentley,  L.  A.  Hinton,  Ira  C.  Simp- 
son, Jesse  H.  Riley  and  Ray  Fairfield.  The  following  year  Bentley,  Riley, 
Hinton  and  Fairfield  were  re-elected,  while  the  new  councilman  was  E. 

C.  Buck.  The  following  year,  1910,  a  change  in  law  permitted  of  the 
election  of  six  councilmen  instead  of  five,  for  a  term  of  two  years  instead 
of  one.  The  men  elected  were  Ray  Fairfield,  L.  A.  Hinton,  J.  H.  Riley, 
T.  T.  Hunter,  G.  W.  Bentley  and  E.  C.  Buck.  Mayor  Manchester  was 
re-elected  the  next  sprng  for  a  two-year  term,  and  with  him  Bentley, 
Riley,  J.  E.  Hatfield  and  Dr.  H.  G.  McCormick.  The  year  that  the  bonds 
were  approved,  the  members  of  council  elected  were  Fairfield,  McCor- 
mick and  Hunter.     Only  one  change  occurred  in  the  council  next  year, 

D.  E.  Denman  being  elected  a  new  member. 

This  was  1914,  and  that  year  one  of  the  most  important  additions 
ever  made  to  Normal  came  up  for  consideration,  it  being  B.  M.  Kuhn's 
addition,  known  as  Cedar  Crest.  Mr.  Kuhn  had  platted  a  large  vacant 
tract  at  the  south  end  of  Normal,  where  his  home  had  stood  for  many 
years.  He  laid  out  curved  drives,  and  displayed  plans  for  building  many 
new  homes.  The  council  finally  admitted  this  addition,  and  it  now  con- 
tains many  fine  modern  homes.  It  is  at  the  south  end  of  Broadway, 
which  was  one  of  the  finest  streets  improved  under  the  Manchester  pav- 
ing program. 

When  Mayor  Manchester  was  re-elected  for  the  last  time,  in  1915, 
it  was  the  first  time  women  had  voted  in  the  city  election,  and  there  was 
the  largest  vote  ever  cast.  By  this  time  the  people  recognized  the  work 
that  had  been  done — the  old  hoodoo  debt  discharged,  many  streets  paved 
and  sewered,  the  water  works  rebuilt  and  many  other  improvements 
made.  The  salary  of  the  office  of  mayor  is  only  $300  per  year,  and  it  was 
recognized  that  this  was  small  compensation  for  the  time  and  work 
which  the  office  entails.  In  the  second  year  of  Mayor  Manchester's  last 
term,  the  councilmen  elected  were  George  T.  Lentz,  William  S.  Sylvester 
and  J.  L.  Wolcott. 

In  1917,  Mayor  Manchester  declined  to  run  again  for  the  office,  and 


144  History  of  McLean  County 

John  A.  Goodwin,  who  had  previously  been  in  the  council,  was  chosen 
mayor.  With  him  were  elected  C.  L.  White,  Frank  S.  Foulk,  George 
Pickering  and  C.  E.  Johnson.  Mayor  Goodwin  occupied  the  executive 
office  in  one  of  the  most  trying  periods  in  the  history  of  the  city,  for 
it  was  the  two  years  during  which  the  United  States  was  engaged  in 
the  World  war.  Ordinary  business  of  the  city  had  to  be  largely  sus- 
pended, while  the  energies  of  the  city  fathers  as  well  as  of  other  cit- 
izens, were  devoted  to  war  work.  The  mayor  and  council  assisted  notably 
in  drives  for  the  Red  Cross,  liberty  loans  and  in  many  other  ways.  Nor- 
mal was  the  scene  of  notable  accomplishments  in  war  work  during  these 
two  years.  The  new  councilmen  in  the  second  year  of  Mayor  Goodwin's 
administration  were  Roy  Bryant,  Wm.  Sylvester  and  C.  E.  Johnson. 

Mayor  Goodwin  declined  to  stand  for  re-election  in  1919,  and  the 
office  was  filled  by  the  election  of  Frank  S.  Foulk,  former  councilman, 
who  is  still  mayor  (1924).  The  first  council  elected  with  Mayor  Foulk 
were  George  Pickering,  Roy  Bates,  James  Hanna,  H.  W.  Adams,  Harry 
Bomgardner.  The  members  elected  to  council  in  1920  were  Bomgardner, 
Sylvester  and  Palmer  Q.  Moore. 

Mayor  Foulk  was  re-elected  in  1921  and  again  in  1923.  Messrs. 
Bates,  Pickering  and  Enos  Stewart  were  elected  to  council  in  1921,  and 
in  1922  those  elected  were  J.  W.  Kirkton,  Alva  E.  Briscoe,  and  Warren 
White.  In  this  year,  E.  A.  Tobias  was  elected  for  the  first  time  city  clerk, 
an  office  he  still  holds.  The  councilmen  elected  in  1923  were  Pickering, 
Park  C.  Gillespie  and  Charles  E.  Clark.  For  the  election  of  1924  the 
council  members  elected  were  W.  H.  Johnson,  R.  E.  Herr  and  Warren 
White.  The  city  clerk  chosen  was  E.  A.  Tobias,  and  the  police  magis- 
trate was  Fred  Goff. 

Two  organizations  stand  out  in  their  influence  for  the  good  of  Nor- 
mal in  the  past  20  years.  They  are  the  Woman's  Improvement  League 
and  the  Normal  Commercial  Club.  The  Woman's  Improvement  League 
was  formed  some  15  years  ago  or  more,  and  has  accomplished  many 
notable  things.  One  of  these  was  the  creation  and  construction  of  the 
Jesse  Fell  Memorial  gateway  at  the  Normal  University  in  honor  of  the 
man  who  had  most  to  do  with  the  early  history  of  Normal  and  the  loca- 
tion here  of  the  great  university. 

The  Normal  Commercial  Club  is  an  organization  of  more  recent 
date  than  the  Woman's  Improvement   League.     However,   it   has   done 


History  of  McLean  County  145 

much  for  the  community  since  it  was  formed.  It  has  rented  club  rooms 
and  furnished  them  for  the  comfort  and  convenience  of  its  members, 
which  include  most  of  the  leading  business  and  professional  men  of  Nor- 
mal. 

Coincident  with  the  growth  of  the  spirit  of  public  improvement,  the 
business  and  commercial  interests  of  Normal  have  expanded.  The  busi- 
ness section  of  the  city  some  25  years  ago  included  about  two  blocks  of 
stores  of  one  kind  and  another,  most  of  them  rather  old  and  out  of  date 
and  representing  comparatively  small  stocks  and  furnishings.  Today, 
the  retail  section  of  the  city  has  spread  out  to  take  in  parts  of  two  other 
blocks,  and  the  general  character  of  the  stores  has  improved  and  been 
modernized  to  a  very  noticeable  extent.  The  lines  of  business  have  also 
been  enlarged,  several  prosperous  stores  now  existing  handling  merchan- 
dise which  a  few  years  ago  could  not  be  secured  in  Normal  at  all.  There 
are  two  banks  where  for  many  years  was  only  one.  A  weekly  newspaper 
of  live  contents  and  enterprising  editorship  has  for  many  years  flour- 
ished. Several  professional  men  in  various  lines  have  built  up  profitable 
clientage.  Where  formerly  the  people  of  Normal  thought  they  had  to 
go  to  Bloomington  for  any  of  their  requirements  in  many  lines,  they  now 
patronize  Normal  stores  and  shops. 

No  doubt  the  establishment  of  the  summer  school  at  the  Univer- 
sity has  had  much  to  do  with  modern  business  life  in  Normal.  Formerly 
there  were  three  months  of  the  year  when  Normal  was  practically  "dead," 
for  the  student  population  had  vanished  and  the  townspeople  lived  only 
in  anticipation  of  the  opening  of  the  next  fall  term  of  school  and  the 
returns  of  the  transients.  Now,  those  days  have  gone  forever.  The 
summer  time  sees  even  a  larger  student  population  than  the  winter 
terms,  and  things  are  as  lively  during  the  heated  period  as  in  other 
seasons.  Consequently  merchants  and  tradesmen  can  figure  on  a  trade 
more  evenly  spread  over  the  whole  year  than  they  formerly  could,  when 
all  their  profit  had  to  be  made  in  nine  months. 

Normal  has  one  large  and  up-to-date  country  club,  the  Maplewood. 
This  club  acquired  the  old  homestead  of  W.  A.  Watson  and  improved 
the  residence  into  a  modern  country  club  house.  The  large  grounds  were 
made  into  golf  links,  one  of  the  best  courses  in  the  state.  The  member- 
ship of  the  club  is  largely  made  up  of  Normal  people,  although  many 
Bloomington  people  also  belong. 

(8) 


CHAPTER  IX. 


BLACK  HAWK  AND  MEXICAN  WARS. 


CHIEF  BLACK  HAWK — McLEAN  COUNTY  FURNISHED  TWO  COMPANIES — BATTLE 
OF  STILLMAN'S  RUN — CLOSE  OF  WAR — BLOCK  HOUSES — HOME  GUARDS- 
MEXICAN  WAR:  McLEAN  COUNTY  COMPANY— "BAKER'S  BOYS" — ACTIVE 
SERVICE    IN   MEXICO — BATTLE    OF    CERRO    GORDO — CASUALTIES. 

Men  of  McLean  County  have  taken  part  in  five  different  wars  of  the 
nation  since  the  county  was  organized.  The  first  was  the  Black  Hawk 
war  with  Indians.  Then  came  the  Mexican  war,  the  Civil  war,  the  Span- 
ish-American, and  finally  the  great  World  war. 

Military  participation  of  men  in  this  county  in  the  war  of  the  whites 
against  Black  Hawk,  the  Indian  chief,  was  on  a  small  scale  as  compared 
with  later  wars.  But  nevertheless  in  relation  to  the  number  of  settlers 
in  the  county  at  that  time,  the  number  of  men  sent  out  was  remarkably 
large.  Indians  who  inhabited  the  territory  of  Illinois  had  by  the  years 
1830-31  passed  to  the-  west  side  of  the  Mississippi  river,  and  by  treaty 
with  the  United  States  agreed  to  stay  there.  The  Sacs  and  Foxes  of 
Northern  Illinois  were  the  principal  tribes.  Black  Hawk  had  fought  with 
the  British  against  the  Americans  in  1812  and  felt  hostility  toward  the 
settlers,  hence  he  never  gave  his  full-hearted  consent  to  the  agreement 
to  go  beyond  the  Mississippi.  By  the  spring  of  1832  he  had  stirred  up  a 
band  of  warriors  of  his  tribe,  who  to  the  number  of  700  or  800  came 
back  into  the  Illinois  lands  with  warlike  intentions.  Fragments  of  other 
tribes  joined  them.  The  governor  of  Illinois  called  for  volunteers  among 
the  white  settlers  to  repel  the  invasion  of  hostile  red  men. 

McLean  County  furnished  two  companies,  with  Capt.  Merrit  L.  Co- 
vell  in  charge  of  one  and  Capt.  William  McClure  in  charge  of  the  other. 

146 


History  of  McLean  County  147 

There  was  also  a  third  company  enrolled  later.  They  joined  the  Fifth 
regiment  of  mounted  volunteers,  under  command  of  Col.  James  Johnson. 
Both  of  the  McLean  County  companies  rendezvoused  at  Dixon,  but  Capt. 
McClure's  company  did  not  reach  there  in  time  to  join  in  Maj.  Stillman's 
expedition. 

The  companies  from  this  count}'  and  the  others  composing  the  vol- 
unteer force  refused  to  attach  themselves  to  the  force  of  United  States 
troops,  for  they  said  they  had  enlisted  to  hunt  Indians,  and  to  hunt  In- 
dians they  were  going.  Finally  Maj.  Stillman  got  an  order  from  Gov. 
Reynolds  to  proceed  northward  and  find  the  hostile  Indians. 

On  the  13th  of  May  the  Illinois  volunteer  force  set  out  to  find  the 
red  men,  and  the  result  was  a  battle  between  the  forces,  in  which  the 
Indians  outnumbered  the  whites  and  sadly  defeated  them.  The  battle 
became  known  as  Stillman's  Run.  The  force  under  Maj.  Stillman  was 
wholly  untrained  and  poorly  armed,  and  their  defeat  was  the  result  of 
their  raw  condition,  from  a  military  sense,  and  not  from  lack  of  bravery. 
In  spite  of  this  initial  defeat,  the  Illinois  volunteers  later  succeeded  in 
driving  Black  Hawk  and  his  hostile  tribes  back  to  the  region  west  of  the 
Mississippi. 

The  list  of  men  who  went  out  from  McLean  County  included  Capt. 
M.  L.  Covell,  First  Lieut.  Asahel  Gridley,  Second  Lieut.  Moses  Baldwin, 
Sergts.  Bailey  H.  Coffey,  David  Simmons  and  William  McCullough,  Pri- 
vates Thomas  0.  Rutledge,  Michael  Gates,  James  Philips,  James  K.  Oren- 
dorff,  Isaac  Murphy,  Samuel  Durley,  Clement  Oatman,  James  Paul,  Reu- 
ben Windham,  John  Vittito,  Jesse  VanDolah,  George  Wiley,  Benjamin 
Conger,  Joseph  Draper  and  Mr.  Harris. 

The  Black  Hawk  war  meant  much  to  McLean  County.  This  county 
was  then  the  northern  frontier  of  white  settlements  in  Illinois.  Black 
Hawk  had  tried  to  get  the  Pottawatomies  and  the  Kickapoos  to  join  his 
warlike  band.  There  was  a  settlement  of  Kickapoos  at  Oliver's  Grove  in 
Livingston  County,  and  a  delegation  of  white  men  from  McLean  County, 
under  Gen.  Bartholomew,  was  sent  to  learn  their  intentions.  The  Indians 
responded  that  they  were  friendly. 

In  spite  of  this  fact,  four  block  houses  were  built  in  McLean  County 
as  protection  against  possible  hostilities.  One  was  at  the  Bartholomew 
settlement  in  Money  Creek  Township,  one  in  the  Henline  settlement,  a 
third  the  John  Paton  house  in  Lexington  township,  and  the  fourth  in 


148  History  of  McLean  County 

Little  Vermilion  settlement  of  Livingston  County.  The  Kickapoos  re- 
mained friendly  and  refused  to  take  the  warpath  for  the  benefit  of  Black 
Hawk. 

One  of  the  most  disagreeable  duties  of  the  men  from  McLean  County 
who  took  part  in  the  war  was  the  burial  of  the  dead  at  Indian  Creek,  a 
white  settlement  in  LaSalle  County  which  was  attacked  and  its  people 
massacred  by  the  Indians  after  the  defeat  and  retreat  of  Stillman's  army. 
They  found  the  bodies  of  the  whites  horribly  mutilated  by  the  brutality 
of  the  redskins.  The  two  companies  then  returned  to  McLean  County 
and  were  mustered  out. 

In  June  of  the  same  year  another  company  was  mustered  in  for  home 
guard  duty.  Its  officers  were  Capt.  Covell,  First  Lieut.  William  Dimmitt 
and  Second  Lieut.  Richard  Edwards.  It  patrolled  the  southern  border 
of  Livingston  County  to  prevent  any  possible  incursions  of  hostile  In- 
dians from  that  quarter.  However,  it  never  encountered  any,  and  after 
a  month  of  service  was  disbanded.  After  the  Black  Hawk  war,  the  fear 
of  Indians  passed  away  forever  from  the  people  of  McLean  County. 

Mexican  War. 

McLean  County  furnished  one  company  to  be  part  of  the  Fourth 
regiment  of  Illinois  volunteers  to  take  part  with  the  forces  of  the  United 
States  in  the  war  against  Mexico  in  1846-47.  The  formation  of  the  com- 
pany was  the  outgrowth  of  a  public  meeting  held  in  Bloomington  June 
13,  1846,  called  by  Gen.  Gridley,  who  had  been  an  officer  in  the  Black 
Hawk  war.  He  addressed  the  meeting  and  urged  the  young  men  to  en- 
list and  "go"  to  the  war.  Immediately  afterward,  John  Moore,  a  prom- 
inent politician,  made  a  speech  in  which  he  said,  "Come  with  me."  He 
himself  was  going  to  enlist.  The  result  was  the  enrollment  of  a  full  com- 
pany of  103  men,  with  Dr.  Garret  B.  Elkin  for  captain,  Lieut.  Gov.  John 
Moore  as  first  lieutenant,  James  Withers  and  William  L.  Duncan  as  second 
lieutenants. 

The  company  went  to  Springfield  next  day  in  wagons,  and  on  find- 
ing that  they  had  to  enlist  for  a  year,  many  of  the  young  men  returned 
home.  The  company  was  filled  with  men  from  other  counties,  and  Andrew 
J.  Wallace  succeeded  John  Moore  as  first  lieutenant.  On  the  26th  of 
June,  the  company  having  been  filled,  marched  overland  to  Alton,  thence 


History  of  McLean  County  149 

to  Jefferson  barracks  at  St.  Louis,  where  Edward  Baker  was  elected 
colonel  of  the  regiment,  John  Moore  of  McLean  County  lieutenant-colonel, 
and  Thomas  L.  Harris  major.  For  six  weeks  the  regiment  drilled  at  St. 
Louis,  and  became  the  best  volunteer  regiment  in  the  middle  west,  be- 
ing known  as  "Baker's  boys."  July  22  they  boarded  steamer  for  New 
Orleans,  thence  by  sailing  vessels  on  the  gulf  to  the  mouth  of  the  Rio 
Grande  river.  Up  the  Rio  Grande  they  went  to  their  first  expedition 
on  Mexican  soil.  They  camped  successively  at  Camp  Belknap,  Camp  Pat- 
terson and  on  the  26th  of  September  they  set  out  for  Matamoros.  On 
the  9th  of  October  the  regiment  was  ordered  to  reinforce  Gen.  Taylor 
at  the  seige  of  Monterey.  They  reached  Camargo,  but  not  in  time  to  rein- 
force Taylor.  They  spent  three  months  of  miserable  existence  in  this 
camp,  subject  to  inaction  and  all  the  diseases  and  other  evils  of  camp 
life,  on  the  chapparal  plains  of  Mexico.  The  heat  and  unsanitary  con- 
ditions caused  much  sickness  and  many  deaths.  Nearly  100  men  of  the 
Fourth  regiment  died,  and  hundreds  of  others  were  discharged  as  in- 
curable invalids. 

On  Dec.  11  the  regiment  left  Matamoros  and  marched  to  Victoria, 
being  under  command  of  Gen.  Pillow  of  the  division  commanded  by  Gen. 
Patterson.  Leaving  Victoria  they  marched  to  Tampico,  reaching  the 
latter  place  Jan.  27,  1847.  While  the  regiment  was  at  Victoria,  it  was 
reviewed  by  Gen.  Taylor,  commander-in-chief  of  the  American  forces  in 
Mexico.  He  received  a  great  ovation.  His  forces  numbered  6,000  men. 
Gen.  Pillow,  in  direct  command  of  the  Illinois  regiment,  was  exceedingly 
unpopular  among  the  men,  because  of  his  cold-blooded  selfish  disregard 
for  the  comfort  of  the  men.  The  march  to  Tampico  was  a  repetition  of 
that  on  Victoria,  with  something  of  the  same  suffering  for  lack  of  water, 
from  the  heat  and  rough  nature  of  the  country.  They  reached  Tampico 
Jan.  24.     The  regiment  carried  a  wagon  train  of  150  wagons. 

On  the  7th  of  March  the  Fourth  regiment  embarked  on  sailing  ves- 
sels for  Vera  Cruz,  the  seaport  of  the  capital.  The  regiment  landed  at 
Vera  Cruz  on  the  20th,  and  prepared  for  a  siege  of  the  place,  which  was 
defended  by  a  wall  and  forts.  The  attacking  force  consisted  of  Gen. 
Pillow's,  Gen.  Patterson's  and  Gen.  Quitman's  brigades.  The  Fourth 
regiment  assisted  in  mounting  a  heavy  naval  battery  close  to  the  city, 
which  was  kept  masked  until  the  proper  time  should  come  to  open  up. 
The  other  parts  of  the  besieging  force  bombarded  the  city  from  Jan.  22 


150  History  of  McLean  County 

to  24.  On  the  morning  of  the  latter  day,  the  big  naval  battery  was  un- 
masked and  opened  on  the  city  with  deadly  effect.  The  walls  and  forts 
crumbled  under  the  heavy  fire,  and  on  the  25th  a  white  flag  of  truce  was 
sent  out  by  the  beleaguered  garrison  to  negotiate  terms  of  surrender. 
On  the  27th  the  city  and  all  public  stores  were  surrendered  to  Gen.  Scott, 
the  commander.  The  loss  of  the  Americans  was  fourteen  killed,  while 
the  Mexicans  lost  between  500  and  1,000.  The  Mexican  force  surren- 
dered amounted  to  4,500  men. 

From  Vera  Cruz,  the  division  of  which  the  Fourth  regiment  was 
part,  marched  toward  the  capital,  along  the  national  highway.  They 
had  gone  on  until  the  12th  of  April,  when  they  heard  sound  of  cannon 
ahead  and  immediately  prepared  for  battle.  They  found  themselves  sup- 
porting the  retreat  of  Gen.  Twiggs'  force,  which  had  met  the  enemy  in 
large  numbers  at  Cerro  Gordo.  On  the  afternoon  of  the  12th,  supplies 
and  ammunition  having  been  issued,  orders  were  given  to  proceed  next 
morning  to  attack  the  enemy.  But  Gen.  Patterson  arose  from  a  sick  bed 
to  countermand  the  orders  of  Gens.  Pillow,  Twiggs  and  Shields,  thereby 
averting  what  would  probably  have  been  an  ignoble  defeat.  But  Gen. 
Scott  arrived  on  the  14th,  and  then  the  army  was  confident  that  they 
could  advance  under  the  wise  leadership  of  their  commanding  general. 
Some  of  the  daring  spirits  of  the  Fourth  Illinois  succeeded  in  dragging 
6  and  12  pound  cannon  to  the  top  of  some  of  the  hills  overlooking  Cerro 
Gordo,  and  when  the  action  opened  the  Mexicans  were  surprised  as  well 
as  dumbfounded  by  this  feat. 

In  the  battle  of  Cerro  Gordo,  General  Twiggs'  division  had  the  lead, 
with  the  Fourth  Regiment,  under  General  Shields  assigned  to  the  task  of 
advancing  over  a  difficult  piece  of  ground.  General  Shields  was  seriously 
wounded  in  the  charge,  and  Colonel  Baker  succeeded  to  the  command. 
The  enemy  were  so  surprised  and  overwhelmed  with  the  bravery  of  the 
advance,  that  they  fled,  leaving  some  of  their  cannon  loaded,  which  the 
Americans  turned  and  fired  at  the  retreating  masses. 

It  was  in  this  battle  that  the  famous  incident  occurred  when  Gen- 
eral Santa  Ana  of  the  Mexican  army  fled,  leaving  his  wooden  leg  behind 
in  a  vehicle.  Lieut.  William  L.  Duncan  of  Company  B,  who  was  in  com- 
mand of  B  and  G  companies,  told  the  authentic  version  of  this  incident, 
saying  that  men  of  the  two  companies  observed  a  large  carriage  aban- 
doned at  an  angle  of  the  road,  and  he  gave  the  order  to  B  and  H  com- 


History  of  McLean  County  151 

panies  to  charge  the  Mexicans  seen  near  the  carriage.  They  saw  Gen. 
Santa  Ana  mounted  on  a  mule  and  fleeing  from  the  scene.  Private  Ed- 
ward Elliott  of  B  company  was  the  man  who  actually  found  the  wooden 
leg  in  the  carriage.  After  being  examined  by  many  men  of  the  com- 
pany, the  relic  was  carried  off  by  a  G  company  man.  The  companies 
also  found  much  gold  coin  in  the  carriage,  which  they  guarded  until  it 
was  taken  in  charge  by  an  aide  from  General  Twiggs'  staff  for  the 
government. 

The  Fourth  Regiment  lost  six  men  killed  and  eleven  wounded  in  this 
action.  On  the  19th  of  April,  the  regiment  received  orders  at  Jalapa  to 
return  home.  They  started  for  Vera  Cruz  on  May  6,  and  reached  New 
Orleans  on  the  14th.  They  remained  there  until  May  22,  when  they 
were  discharged  and  returned  home. 

The  Mexican  War  proved  a  school  of  instruction  for  many  of  the 
men  who  20  years  later  became  prominent  military  leaders  in  the  Civil 
War.  The  Illinois  General  Assembly  in  1849  directed  the  governor  to 
buy  swords  suitably  inscribed,  to  be  presented  to  General  Shields  and 
each  of  the  field  officers  from  this  state  who  were  engagd  in  the  Mexican 
War.  One  of  these  swords  was  presented  to  Lieutenant  Colonel  Moore  of 
McLean  County,  and  this  sword  is  now  in  possession  of  the  McLean 
County  Historical  Society. 


CHAPTER  X. 


CIVIL  AND  SPANISH-AMERICAN  WARS. 


EVENTS  LEADING  UP  TO  CIVIL  WAR — PUBLIC  SENTIMENT  IN  McLEAN  COUNTY — 
ANSWER  TO  FIRST  CALL  OF  PRESIDENT — FIRST  COMPANY— OTHER  COM- 
PANIES AND  REGIMENTS  IN  SERVICE — RELIEF  WORK— SOLDIER'S  MONU- 
MENT—SPANISH-AMERICAN  WAR. 

Little  can  we  conceive  at  this  day  and  generation  of  the  bitterness 
of  the  political  campaign  which  preceded  the  presidential  election  of  1860, 
in  which  there  were  four  candidates,  Abraham  Lincoln,  Stephen  A.  Doug- 
las, John  C.  Breckenridge  and  John  Bell.  Lincoln  and  Douglas  were  both 
from  the  state  of  Illinois,  Breckenridge  from  Kentucky  and  Bell  from 
Tennessee.  Lincoln  had  been  nominated  by  the  then  comparatively  young 
Republican  party;  Douglas  was  the  candidate  of  the  northern  Democrats, 
while  Bell  and  Breckenridge  were  put  up  by  the  southern  Democrats. 
Breckenridge  was  the  candidate  of  the  secession  wing  of  his  party — the 
element  which  believed  the  slave  states  of  the  south  should  withdraw 
from  the  Union  and  form  a  Confederacy  or  nation  of  their  own. 

Political  sentiment  in  McLean  County  was  unanimously  against  the 
idea  that  part  of  the  states  might  secede  peaceably  from  the  Union.  The 
Republican  and  Democratic  parties  alike  were  pledged  not  to  interfere 
with  slavery  in  the  states  where  it  was  already  established,  but  the  Re- 
publicans also  wanted  to  vote  slavery  out  of  any  new  states  admitted. 
Speculation  before  the  election  of  1860  was  to  the  effect  that  either  Lin- 
coln would  be  elected  by  getting  the  necessary  180  electoral  votes,  or  else 
that  no  candidate  would  have  a  majority  and  the  election  would  be 
thrown  into  the  house;  no  one  thought  that  Douglas  would  win.  It  is 
interesting  to  recall  the  vote  in  McLean  County  in  that  historic  election. 

152 


of  me. 

!   •MflKV 


History  of  McLean  County  153 

Lincoln  received  3,547,  Douglas  2,567,  Bell  58,  and  Breckenridge  7.  Lin- 
coln received  172,161  votes  in  the  state  of  Illinois,  Douglas  160,215,  Bell 
4,913,  and  Breckenridge  2,404. 

After  Lincoln's  election,  and  before  his  inauguration,  plans  were 
going  forward  in  the  south  for  the  withdrawal  of  the  slave  states  and  the 
forming  of  a  new  Confederacy.  Between  December  and  March,  the  fol- 
lowing states  had  formally  seceded:  South  Carolina,  Mississippi,  Florida, 
Alabama,  Georgia  and  Louisiana.  These  six  states  held  a  meeting  in 
February,  1861,  and  formed  the  Southern  Confederacy.  A  few  months 
later,  and  after  war  had  actually  broken  out,  the  states  of  Texas,  Ten- 
nessee, Arkansas,  North  Carolina  and  Virginia,  joined  them. 

Public  sentiment  in  the  country  was  in  a  turmoil  when  Lincoln  took 
office,  on  March  4,  1861.  No  one  knew  what  would  happen  next.  During 
Buchanan's  term,  after  Lincoln's  election,  the  men  from  the  south  in 
Congress  and  elsewhere,  had  conspired  to  weaken  the  arms  of  the  gov- 
ernment in  every  way,  so  that  the  military  and  naval  establishment  was 
broken  down  when  Lincoln  stepped  in.  A  peace  convention  had  been  called, 
but  it  came  to  nothing,  and  things  were  still  in  this  state  of  uncertainty, 
when  on  April  12,  1861,  the  United  States  flag  on  Fort  Sumter  was  fired 
upon,  and  after  a  brief  resistance  the  garrison  surrendered. 

In  spite  of  the  lack  of  telephones,  radio  messages  and  with  only 
crude  telegraphic  facilities,  the  news  of  the  precipitation  of  the  country 
into  war  came  like  a  flash  to  McLean  County.  On  April  15,  President 
Lincoln  issued  a  call  for  75,000  volunteers  to  serve  three  months.  The 
response  in  McLean  County  was  instant.  It  would  be  hard  to  describe 
the  scenes  enacted  in  Bloomington  and  in  every  other  town  of  the  county. 

On  the  next  night  after  the  President's  proclamation,  the  16th,  a 
public  meeting  was  held  at  Phoenix  Hall,  and  a  muster  roll  of  a  military 
company  was  made  up.  It  was  rapidly  signed,  and  on  the  18th,  only  three 
days  after  the  President's  call,  a  company  of  113  young  men  left  Bloom- 
ington for  Springfield  under  command  of  Captain  Harvey,  a  veteran  of 
the  Mexican  War. 

The  scene  at  the  departure  of  this  first  company  of  volunteers  from 
Bloomington  was  memorable;  would  that  we  had  a  moving  picture  of  it. 
The  entire  population  gathered  at  the  old  C.  &  A  depot  north  of  Chestnut 
Street,  to  bid  good-bye  to  the  boys  who  were  going,  as  many  thought,  to 
certain  death.     Such  scenes  were  repeated  many  times  in  the  succeeding 


154  History  of  McLean  County 

four  years  as  company  after  company  went  off  to  war,  but  the  later  scenes 
lacked  some  of  the  novelty  and  dramatic  interest  which  attached  to  the 
first.  The  company  went  to  Cairo,  where  they  saw  no  actual  warfare, 
but  many  of  them  suffered  from  sickness  and  lack  of  sanitary  conditions 
in  camp.  At  the  end  of  their  three  months'  service  practically  all  of  them 
returned  home  in  July.  But  the  company  re-enlisted  for  three  years  un- 
der the  President's  second  call,  and  became  Company  K  of  the  Eighth 
Illinois.  Captain  Harvey,  who  continued  as  company  commander  under 
the  reorganization,  lost  his  life  in  battle  at  Shiloh,  April  6,  1862.  The 
lieutenant  was  Joseph  G.  Howell,  who  had  been  in  charge  of  the  model 
school  in  Normal  and  resigned  to  enter  the  army.  He  was  killed  at  Fort 
Donnelson  in  February,  1862.  Howell  and  Harvey  were  highly  honored 
and  long  held  in  memory  in  McLean  County  as  the  first  officers  that  fell 
in  battle  in  the  Civil  War.  A  great  public  funeral  was  held  here  for 
Lieutenant  Howell,  whose  body  was  brought  back  for  burial.  A  marble 
tablet  in  the  halls  at  Normal  commemorate  his  service. 

Five  other  companies  of  three  months'  men  were  offered  in  the  weeks 
immediately  after  Company  K  departed.  The  state  could  accept  but  one 
such  company.  During  May  and  June  recruiting  continued  at  gigantic 
strides.  It  was  seen  that  the  war  would  not  end  in  thirty  days,  and  that 
three-year  enlistments  would  be  necessary.  When  the  latter  call  came, 
each  congressional  district  in  Illinois  was  asked  to  furnish  a  regiment. 

But  how  to  feed  and  equip  them?  The  general  government  could 
not  do  it;  its  resources  were  overtaxed.  So  far  as  McLean  County  is  con- 
cerned, the  board  of  supervisors  came  to  the  rescue.  This  body  had  been 
organized  only  three  years,  having  first  been  formed  in  1857.  Just  a 
week  after  the  departure  of  Captain  Harvey's  company  for  the  front,  the 
board  met.  Two  days  later  it  passed  a  resolution  framed  by  the  chairman 
of  the  committee,  Owen  T.  Reeves,  to  vote  $10,000  "to  defray  the  neces- 
sary expense  of  enrolling,  equipping  and  provisioning  such  persons  as  had 
volunteered  or  may  volunteer  in  defense  of  their  country."  There  was 
only  $2,000  in  the  treasury,  but  a  committee  was  appointed  to  borrow 
the  money  for  this  first  appropriation. 

Volunteers  continued  to  pour  into  Bloomington,  and  five  other  com- 
panies were  formed  captained  by  Pullen,  Hely,  Friccui  and  Ewing.  The 
committee   of   the   board   of   supervisors   had   to   find   places   to   shelter 


History  of  McLean  County  155 

them,  and  this  they  did  in  taverns,  boarding  and  private  houses.  The  old 
fair  grounds  was  rented  and  "Camp  Gridley"  was  established. 

This  example  of  McLean  County  appropriating  money  to  equip  and 
feed  the  recruits,  was  followed  by  many  other  counties  of  the  state.  The 
sum  of  $10,000  was  appropriated  each  succeeding  year  of  the  war  by  the 
board  for  this  purpose,  and  the  records  show  that  during  the  war  the 
board  voted  $411,124  for  uniforming  and  equipping  volunteers  and  tor 
aid  to  their  families. 

The  McLean  County  Historical  Society  in  1899  published  a  large  vol- 
ume under  the  heading  of  "War  Record  of  McLean  County,"  which  the 
board  of  supervisors  assisted  in  financing  in  order  to  preserve  to  posterity 
the  proud  record  made  by  the  county  in  the  earlier  wars,  including  the 
Civil  and  the  Spanish  wars. 

Through  the  generosity  of  the  county,  the  number  of  enlisted  men 
here  was  kept  far  in  advance  of  the  calls  by  the  government  for  quotas 
from  this  county.  Therefore,  in  order  to  get  into  action  sooner,  some  of 
the  young  men  accepted  service  as  part  of  Missouri  regiments,  the  quotas 
from  that  state  being  hard  to  fill  on  account  of  part  of  the  population 
being  secessionist  in  sympathy.  Capt.  Giles  A.  Smith  led  a  company 
from  McLean  County  which  became  Company  D  and  E  of  the  Eighth 
Missouri,  in  June,  1861.  Captain  Smith  became  colonel  of  this  regi- 
ment, and  later  in  the  war  was  promoted  to  brigadier-general  and  then 
major-general.  The  Eighth  Missouri  made  a  fine  record  in  the  war,  and 
no  small  part  of  it  belongs  to  the  men  of  McLean  County.  A  fine  oil 
painting  of  Capt.  Giles  A.  Smith  is  the  property  of  the  McLean  County 
Historical  Society,  having  been  donated  by  a  daughter  in  Switzerland 
many  years  afterward. 

The  First  Missouri  Engineers,  under  command  of  Bissell,  was  also 
made  up  in  part  by  men  from  McLean  County. 

The  first  year  of  the  war,  contingents  of  recruits  from  McLean 
County  were  accepted  for  service  in  the  Seventh,  Ninth,  Thirteenth,  Six- 
teenth, Seventeenth,  Eighteenth  and  Nineteenth  Illinois  Regiments. 
Company  E  of  the  Fourteenth  contained  thirty  McLean  County  men. 
This  regiment  was  commanded  by  Gen.  John  M.  Palmer,  afterward  gov- 
ernor. A  full  company,  under  Capt.  J.  0.  Pullen,  went  into  the  Twentieth 
Illinois.     R.  N.  Evans  of  this  company  became  a  major.     Capt.  Jonathan 


156  History  of  McLean  County 

H.  Rowell  enlisted  in  May,  18.61,  in  Company  G,  Seventeenth  Illinois,  and 
was  made  captain  in  May,  1862,  "for  meritorious  service  at  the  battle  of 
Pittsburgh  Landing-."  Company  B  of  the  Twenty-fourth  Illinois  was 
made  up  of  75  Germans  from  McLean  County,  under  Captain  Heinrichs, 
Julius  Frisch  lieutenant.  The  Twenty-fourth  was  Colonel  Hecker's  Ger- 
man regiment,  which  saw  service  in  a  dozen  battles  and  lost  many  brave 
men. 

As  early  as  July,  1861,  a  company  of  cavalry  was  organized  in  this 
county  from  young  men  who  were  expert  horsemen.  This  was  under 
Capt.  John  McNulta,  who  afterward  became  Colonel  of  the  Ninety-fourth 
Illinois  Infantry.  The  cavalry  company  became  Company  A,  First  Illi- 
nois Cavalry,  and  was  sent  to  Lexington,  Mo.,  to  join  other  forces.  Here 
the  Federal  force  was  surprised  Sept.  20,  1861,  by  Gen.  Sterling  Price, 
commanding  the  Confederates,  and  after  a  sharp  fight  was  obliged  to  sur- 
render. The  prisoners  were  paroled  home  and  most  of  them  re-enlisted. 
Hon.  Harvey  Hogg,  member  of  the  Legislature,  became  an  officer  of  an- 
other cavalry  regiment,  being  made  lieutenant-colonel  of  the  Second  Illi- 
nois Cavalry.  He  was  killed  at  Bolivar,  Tenn.,  Aug.  30,  1862.  About  170 
McLean  County  men  joined  the  Third  Illinois  Cavalry,  half  of  them  in 
1861  and  the  others  as  recruits  in  later  years.  Company  I,  captained  first 
by  John  Niccolls  and  later  by  S.  F.  Doloff,  was  more  largely  of  McLean 
County  men.  The  Third  Cavalry,  under  Col.  Eugene  Carr,  a  West  Point 
graduate,  marched  through  Missouri  and  Arkansas  and  took  part  in  the 
siege  of  Vicksburg. 

The  Fourth  Illinois  Cavalry  had  70  men  from  this  county  on  its  rolls. 
Col.  William  McCullough,  who  went  into  the  war  with  only  one  arm  and 
one  eye,  was  commander  of  this  regiment,  being  admitted  on  special 
order  of  President  Lincoln.  He  served  heroically  and  was  killed  in  battle 
Dec.  5,  1862.  Capt.  John  M.  Longstreth  of  Leroy  was  commander  of 
Company  L  of  the  Fourth  Cavalry.  The  regiment  was  at  Fort  Donnelson, 
Shiloh,  Vicksburg  and  other  engagements.  Company  C  of  the  Fifth  Cav- 
alry was  another  contingent  made  up  of  McLean  County  men  in  large 
part,  organized  in  the  fall  of  1861.  It  was  captained  in  succession  by 
William  P.  Withers,  Francis  A.  Wheelock  and  C.  W.  Wheelock,  the  latter 
two  from  McLean.  This  company  went  out  ninety  strong  and  was  joined 
by  thirty  recruits  later.  Many  of  the  enlisted  men  came  from  other  parts 
of  the  county,  although  they  were  mostly  credited  to  Bloomington.     All 


History  of  McLean  County  157 

of  the  cavalrymen  except  those  in  the  First,  and  most  of  the  infantrymen 
after  the  Twenty-fifth,  enlisted  under  President  Lincoln's  call  for  300,000 
men  on  July  22,  1861.  This  call  revived  the  wave  of  patriotism  which 
had  first  swept  the  country  in  April,  and  hundreds  rushed  to  enlist.  The 
battle  of  Bull  Run  had  sobered  the  country  from  its  first  wild  outburst, 
but  its  determination  was  just  as  deep  to  uphold  the  President.  Enlist- 
ment had  been  robbed  of  its  novelty  and  romance  after  the  first  three 
months. 

It  was  the  mid-summer  of  1861  that  saw  the  organization  of  the 
Thirty-third  Illinois,  the  "Normal  Regiment,"  and  of  the  Thirty-ninth, 
the  famous  "Yates  Phalanx."  Capt.  John  H.  Burnham,  who  entered  Com- 
pany A  of  the  Thirty-third,  as  a  lieutenant,  and  was  in  1862  promoted  to 
the  captaincy,  in  after  years  wrote  a  carefully  prepared  history  of  the 
regiment,  from  which  some  facts  are  gleaned.  President  Charles  E. 
Hovey,  of  the  Normal  University,  organized  a  military  company  among 
the  students,  hiring  John  W.  White  as  drill  master,  who  afterward  be- 
came captain  of  Company  K  of  the  Eighth  Missouri.  The  young  company 
acquired  uniforms  and  used  sticks  as  guns,  but  constant  drill  gave  them 
a  respectable  degree  of  proficiency  in  the  manual  of  arms.  They  took 
the  title  "Normal  Rifles."  When  Joseph  G.  Howell  resigned  from  the 
principalship  of  the  model  school,  Burnham  took  his  place  and 
taught  eleven  weeks,  graduating  in  July.  When  the  term  ended,  the 
company  decided  to  enlist  in  the  next  call  for  troops.  President  Hovey 
later  conceived  the  idea  of  a  full  regiment  made  up  of  Normal  students 
and  the  teachers  of  the  state.  His  suggestion  met  with  instant  response, 
and  Hovey  offered  the  regiment  to  Governor  Yates,  but  the  governor 
could  not  at  once  accept.  Hovey  started  for  Washington  to  offer  the  regi- 
ment to  the  government  direct.  He  arrived  the  day  before  the  battle  of 
Bull  Run,  and  hearing  of  the  impending  fight  he  went  out  in  the  direc- 
tion. He  ran  right  into  the  retreating  Union  troops,  grabbed  an  aban- 
doned rifle  and  acted  as  a  soldier  during  the  rest  of  the  action.  The  next 
day  after  an  audience  with  the  Secretary  of  War,  Hovey  was  given  au- 
thority to  organize  a  regiment  in  Illinois.  Returning  to  Normal,  he 
started  quick  action  to  complete  the  formation  of  the  regiment  of  which 
he  became  colonel.  The  Normal  Rifles  became  Company  A  of  the  new 
regiment,  being  mustered  into  service  on  August  21,  with  Leander  H. 
Potter  as  captain.     Company  C  was  made  up  of  a  militia  company  that 


158  History  of  McLean  County 

had  been  formed  in  Bloomington  in  May.  E.  R.  Roe  became  a  major  and 
later  a  lieutenant-colonel.  Colonel  Hovey  arose  to  the  rank  of  brigadier- 
general  in  1863,  and  was  later  brevetted  major-general.  E.  J.  Lewis,  edi- 
tor of  the  Pantagraph,  joined  the  regiment,  was  made  a  captain  May  20, 
1863,  and  served  through  the  Avar.  Ira  Moore  of  the  Normal  faculty  was 
captain  of  Company  G,  which  like  C  Company  was  made  up  largely  of 
McLean  County  men. 

The  Thirty-third  regiment  saw  much  fighting.  It  took  part  in  the 
famous  charge  on  Vicksburg  on  May  22,  1863,  and  lost  75  men  killed  and 
wounded.  It  was  in  the  actions  at  Port  Gibson,  Champion  Hills,  Black 
River  bridge,  Fort  Esperanza,  in  Texas,  Spanish  Fort,  Alabama,  and  other 
places.  A  total  of  240  men  from  McLean  County  joined  this  regiment 
in  1861  and  forty  more  at  later  dates. 

Another  famous  McLean  County  regiment  was  the  Thirty-ninth,  the 
Yates  Phalanx,  so  named  in  honor  of  Gov.  Yates.  Company  B  was  or- 
ganized in  Bloomington  in  August  and  September,  1861.  It  was  cap- 
tained in  succession  by  I.  W.  Wilmeth,  David  F.  Sellers,  George  T.  Heri- 
tage, John  F.  Alsup.  Company  F  contained  fifteen  men  under  Capt.  John 
McGrath;  Company  H,  Capt.  Chauncey  Williams  of  Old  Town,  and  later 
Capt.  William  Downs  of  Downs;  Company  I,  Capt.  Hiram  M.  Phillips, 
made  up  of  Leroy  men.  There  were  men  in  these  companies  from  Old 
Town,  Downs,  Leroy  and  Randolph.  Company  K,  Capt.  S.  E.  Meyers, 
formed  with  25  men.  In  all,  200  men  enlisted  in  the  Thirty-ninth  in  1861 
and  100  men  the  next  two  years.    It  was  veteranized  in  1864. 

From  Camp  Benton,  Mo.,  its  first  rendezvous,  the  regiment  was  or- 
dered to  Williamsport,  Md.,  to  be  armed  and  equipped,  then  crossed  the 
Potomac  river  to  guard  the  B.  &  O.  railroad.  It  was  attacked  Jan.  3,  1862, 
by  15,000  rebels  under  Stonewall  Jackson,  and  for  several  days  carried  on 
intermittent  fighting  with  the  enemy.  Finally  it  recrossed  the  Potomac 
and  took  up  position  on  the  Maryland  side.  In  March  it  took  a  hand  in 
the  brilliant  fight  at  Winchester,  and  went  down  the  Shenandoah  valley 
and  was  afterward  at  Harrison's  landing  and  the  second  battle  of  Mal- 
vern Hill.  The  regiment  in  1863  was  in  North  and  South  Carolina  in  active 
service,  and  was  the  first  to  mount  the  walls  of  Fort  Wagner  at  its  cap- 
ture. At  Newburn,  N.  C.,  Col.  T.  O.  Osborn  of  this  regiment  was  placed 
in  command  of  the  first  brigade.  Here  a  flag  was  presented  to  the  regi- 
ment from  Gov.  Yates,  and  afterward  was  carried  in  all  its  engagements. 


History  of  McLean  County  159 

The  Thirty-ninth  took  part  in  Gen.  Hunter's  expedition  against  Charles- 
ton and  assisted  in  the  taking  of  Morris  Island. 

In  January,  1864,  the  regiment  left  for  the  north  on  veteran  furlough, 
being  given  a  great  send-off.  Arriving  in  Chicago  in  the  middle  of  Jan- 
uary, it  received  a  great  ovation  and  recruited  up  from  a  strength  of  450 
men  to  750.  It  then  returned  to  Washington  and  was  sent  to  George- 
town, Va.,  as  part  of  the  First  Brigade,  First  division,  Tenth  army  corps. 
It  was  in  Gen.  Butler's  famous  expedition  up  the  James  river  in  May,  1864, 
and  when  at  one  time  was  completely  surrounded  by  the  enemy,  cut  its 
way  out  with  a  loss  of  nearly  200  men.  On  the  2nd  of  June  another  fight 
was  carried  on  at  the  same  place,  when  Lieut.  Albert  W.  Fellows  was 
killed  and  Capt.  Al.  C.  Sweetser  lost  a  leg.  From  June  16  to  18  the  regi- 
ment fought  day  and  night  against  Longstreet's  corps,  losing  35  men,  in- 
cluding Capt.  0.  F.  Rudd.  On  Aug.  15  this  regiment  charged  the  enemy 
works  at  Deep  Run,  losing  104  men.  In  October  another  charge  on  Dar- 
lington Road,  seven  miles  from  Richmond,  60  men  of  the  250  in  the  regi- 
ment fell.  The  regiment  had  lost  its  officers  until  there  remained  only 
one  first  and  one  second  lieutenant  and  one  adjutant.  During  the  winter 
it  was  recruited  and  took  part  in  the  desperate  fight  at  Fort  Gregg,  April 
2,  1865.  Its  depleted  forces  scaled  the  ditch  and  the  walls  of  the  fort  and 
captured  the  garrison  after  a  deadly  hand  to  hand  conflict  of  a  half  hour. 
The  regiment  was  presented  with  a  magnificent  brazen  eagle  for  its  color1 
staff,  and  Col.  Thomas  O.  Osborn  was  made  brigadier  general.  From  this 
time  the  Thirty-ninth  headed  the  Army  of  the  James  in  pursuit  of  Gen. 
Lee  until  the  latter  surrendered  at  Appomatox. 

In  the  early  part  of  1862,  Co.  K  of  the  Twenty-sixth  Illinois,  60  men, 
went  out  under  Capt.  Ira  J.  Bloomfield,  who  had  resigned  from  the  high 
school.  Bloomfield  later  became  brigadier  general.  The  Twenty-sixth 
saw  service  in  twenty-eight  hard  fought  battles,  ending  at  Bentonville, 
N.  C,  and  taking  part  in  the  grand  review  at  Washington. 

There  were  87  men  from  McLean  County  in  Company  D,  of  the  Sixty- 
third  regiment,  Capt.  A.  E.  Cherrington.  This  regiment  was  in  the  Vicks- 
burg  campaign,  the  march  to  the  sea,  and  in  numerous  engagements.  The 
regiment  was  mustered  out  in  1865. 

There  were  many  McLean  County  men  in  the  regiments  enlisted  for 
thirty  days  in  1862,  among  them  being  the  67th,  68th,  69th,  70th  and 
71st.    Col.  Owen  T.  Reeves,  after  Judge  Reeves,  went  out  in  charge  of  the 


160  History  of  McLean  County 

70th  regiment,  a  three  months  regiment.  J.  H.  Scibird  was  major  of  this 
regiment.  These  short-term  enlisted  men  were  used  mostly  for  guard 
duty. 

Company  H  of  the  62d  was  made  up  of  McLean  County  men;  Capt. 
Samuel  Sherman;  Lieuts.  Foley  and  Wilson.  Organized  in  April,  1862; 
veteranized  in  1864  and  mustered  out  in  1866. 

This  county  contributed  Co.  D  of  the  63rd,  Capt.  John  W.  Champion, 
mustered  in  at  Camp  Dubois  in  April,  1862;  was  at  Vicksburg,  Mission 
Ridge,  northern  Mississippi  campaign,  Atlanta  to  the  sea,  and  in  May, 
1865,  was  at  Richmond.     Mustered  out  in  July,  1865,  at  Camp  Butler. 

Company  F  of  the  68th  Illinois  was  from  McLean  County;  captain, 
John  W.  Morris;  lieutenant,  John  R.  Larimore;  and  Company  G,  captain, 
James  P.  Moore ;  lieutenants,  Harvey  C.  DeMotte  and  John  H.  Stout.  This 
was  a  three-months  regiment. 

McLean  County  furnished  part  of  Company  E  of  the  82d,  Capt.  Robert 
Sender.  This  regiment  was  at  Fredericksburg,  Chancellorsville,  at  Gettys- 
burg, losing  heavily  of  its  men  in  the  latter  two  battles.  It  was  trans- 
ferred to  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland  and  fought  at  Lookout  Mountain; 
mustered  out  in  1865. 

The  Ninety-fourth  regiment  was  more  than  any  other  a  McLean 
County  regiment.  Its  muster  was  started  in  the  summer  of  1862  under 
the  president's  call  for  600,000  men.  It  was  a  very  popular  movement, 
men  rushing  to  sign  the  muster  roll  in  all  parts  of  the  county;  within  a 
week,  1,200  men  had  been  signed.  The  regiment  was  completed  and  two 
full  companies  were  left  over  and  joined  other  regiments,  one  company 
from  Cheney's  Grove  joining  the  116th  as  Company  F,  and  one  from 
McLean  becoming  Company  A  of  the  117th.  The  military  history  of 
these  two  companies  was  mostly  lost.  The  Ninety-fourth  was  mustered 
into  the  U.  S.  service  in  Bloomington  and  left  on  the  25th  of  August  in 
box  cars  for  St.  Louis.  By  Sept.  10  it  was  on  its  way  to  Rolla,  Mo.  It 
received  its  baptism  of  fire  Dec.  7  at  Prairie  Grove,  Mo.,  where  one  man 
was  killed  and  twenty-six  wounded.  It  remained  at  Lake  Spring,  Mo., 
from  January  to  June,  and  about  this  time  Col.  W.  W.  Orme  was  made 
brigadier  general,  and  Capt.  John  McNulta  and  Capt.  Laughlin  advanced 
one  grade;  Capt.  Briscoe  was  made  major;  Sergt.  A.  L.  Hey  wood  made 
adjutant.  The  regiment  arrived  at  Vicksburg  June  13,  and  from  that 
time  to  the  surrender  bore  its  part  in  the  siege.     It  lost  one  man  killed 


History  of  McLean  County  161 

and  five  wounded.  The  regiment  took  part  in  many  other  engagements 
during  its  two  years  and  fifty  weeks  in  the  service,  but  lost  comparatively 
few  men  from  wounds  or  disease.  The  make-up  of  this  regiment  was 
as  follows:  Co.  A,  Capt.  A.  S.  Lawrence,  Bloomington;  Co.  B,  Capt.  Tim- 
othy Freeman,  Hey  worth;  Co.  C,  Capt.  John  Franklin,  Lexington;  Co.  D, 
Capt.  George  W.  Brown,  Padua,  Danvers,  Bloomington  and  Towanda;  Co. 
E,  Capt.  John  L.  Routt,  Bloomington;  Co.  F,  Capt.  Aaron  W.  Walden, 
Padua,  Bloomington,  Danvers  and  Towanda;  Co.  G,  Capt.  Aaron  Buckles, 
Leroy ;  Co.  H,  Capt.  Joseph  P.  Orme,  known  as  the  Irish  company,  Bloom- 
ington; Co.  I,  Capt.  W.  H.  Mann,  Normal,  Money  Creek,  Twin  Grove  and 
Gridley;  Co.  K,  Capt.  James  M.  Burch,  mustered  from  Danvers  and  other 
townships. 

The  first  colonel  of  the  Ninety-fourth  was  William  W.  Orme,  who  was 
made  a  brigadier  general  in  1862,  and  confirmed  by  the  U.  S.  Senate  April 
4,  1863.  He  was  followed  by  Lieutenant  Colonel  John  McNulta,  who  served 
as  colonel  to  the  end  of  the  war.  Part  of  the  time  Col.  McNulta  com- 
manded a  brigade,  and  at  the  close  of  the  war  was  made  brigadier  general. 

One  of  the  two  companies  left  over  after  the  Ninety-fourth  regiment 
was  formed  and  captained  by  Lemuel  N.  Bishop  of  Cheney's  Grove,  from 
which  section  most  of  the  men  enlisted.  This  company  became  Co.  F  of 
the  116th,  a  Macon  County  regiment.  This  regiment  first  fought  at 
Chickasaw  Bayou  in  December,  1862,  and  on  Jan.  11,  1863,  took  part  in 
a  great  defeat  of  the  rebels  at  Arkansas  Post.  Company  B  lost  all  but  25 
men  at  this  battle,  coming  out  under  command  of  a  fifth  sergeant,  after- 
ward Lieutenant  and  Captain  C.  Riebsame,  who  lived  many  years  after 
the  war  in  Bloomington.  In  camp  along  the  river  opposite  Vicksburg  in 
1863,  the  116th  lost  one  hundred  men  from  disease,  a  record  of  fatality 
rarely  equalled.  Fourteen  of  the  McLean  County  company  died  of  dis- 
ease. 

Mt.  Hope  and  Funk's  Grove  get  credit  for  the  enlistments  in  Co.  A 
of  the  117th  regiment,  another  overflow  from  the  Ninety-foUrth.  S.  B. 
Kinsey  was  the  first  captain,  followed  by  Charles  S.  Beath.  The  117th 
regiment  was  at  Vicksburg,  also  in  the  Red  River  expedition,  at  Nashville 
during  the  bitter  cold  weather  of  December,  1864,  and  in  all  engaged  in 
six  battles  and  thirty-three  skirmishes. 

A  reunion  association  of  the  Ninety-fourth  regiment  was  formed 
many  years  after  the  war,  and  holds  annual  meetings  in  Bloomington  on 

(9) 


162  History  of  McLean  County 

or  about  Aug.  25th,  the  anniversary  of  its  muster.  The  number  of  mem- 
bers attending  these  reunions  grew  smaller  as  time  passed. 

Recruits  to  the  number  of  2,000  men  had  enlisted  in  the  army  during 
the  year  1862,  and  the  quotas  from  McLean  County  were  well  filled.  Con- 
sequently as  the  year  1863  came  on,  recruiting  fell  off  in  numbers  and  en- 
thusiasm, only  a  few  men  here  and  there  offering  themselves  for  service. 
People  in  general  were  anxiously  awaiting  the  end  of  the  war,  which  they 
thought  would  come  soon.  In  the  subsequent  Illinois  regiments  number- 
ing from  the  97th  to  the  115th,  there  were  a  few  recruits  in  each  from 
McLean  County.  A  company  of  forty  Germans  under  Capt.  Robert  Lender 
made  up  a  company  recruited  into  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  this  being 
the  second  company  made  up  here  for  service  in  German  regiments. 

Forty  McLean  County  men  were  members  of  Companies  I,  K,  L,  and 
M  of  the  Sixteenth  Illinois  cavalry,  the  last  cavalry  regiment  organized 
in  the  state.  These  men,  recruited  late  in  1863,  had  some  of  the  most 
trying  experiences  encountered  by  any  McLean  County  men  in  the  war. 
The  regiment  was  captured  in  an  early  engagement,  and  the  prisoners 
were  cast  into  the  notorious  prison  at  Andersonville,  where  many  of  them 
died  and  from  which  many  others  finally  were  released  physical  wrecks. 

An  incident  of  peculiar  and  sensational,  though  not  of  tragic  moment, 
was  the  midnight  alarm  which  aroused  Bloomington  on  May  25,  1863, 
when  it  was  announced  that  immediate  recruits  were  wanted  by  hundreds 
to  suppress  an  outbreak  of  rebel  prisoners  in  Camp  Butler  in  Springfield. 
Before  morning  a  company  of  475  men  in  all  kinds  of  uniforms  and  carry- 
ing all  kinds  of  arms,  were  on  their  way  to  Springfield.  Their  arrival  was 
a  surprise  to  the  capital,  for  no  one  there  had  heard  of  an  uprising  of 
rebel  prisoners,  and  affairs  at  Camp  Butler  were  calm  enough.  The  sud- 
denly recruited  company  contained  most  of  the  men  of  Bloomington, 
young,  old,  rich,  poor,  cripples  and  every  other  kind. 

There  was  a  very  great  slacking  up  of  recruiting  in  McLean  County 
during  the  year  1863,  as  the  people  considered  that  they  had  done  their 
share  of  sending  men  into  the  army.  The  county  had  offered  a  bounty 
of  $50  for  each  man  enlisted  in  1862  for  a  period  of  three  years.  The  in- 
fantry quotas  were  filled,  there  were  but  few  enlistments  for  the  artillery 
and  considerably  more  for  the  cavalry.  Men  from  McLean  County  were 
among  those  making  up  Companies  I,  K,  L,  and  M  of  the  Sixteenth  Illi- 
nois cavalry. 


History  of  McLean  County  163 

The  general  feeling  in  the  north  had  undergone  a  change  during  the 
year  1863  from  what  it  had  been  one  or  two  years  previous.  A  feeling  of 
uncertainty  as  to  the  outcome  of  the  war  gave  way  in  certain  sections  to 
one  of  actual  opposition  to  its  further  prosecution.  The  people  opposed 
to  Lincoln's  war  policies  became  known  as  "Copperheads"  and  the  opposi- 
tion to  the  war  culminated  in  New  York  City  in  riots  as  a  demonstration 
against  the  drafting  of  soldiers  for  the  service.  A  secret  society  known 
as  "Knights  of  the  Golden  Circle,"  came  into  being,  with  many  branches 
in  Illinois.  It  gave  secret  and  sometimes  open  comfort  to  the  enemy  and 
rejoiced  at  victories  by  the  rebel  arms. 

In  opposition  to  the  Knights  of  the  Golden  Circle  and  other  organiza- 
tions opposing  the  war,  a  counter  movement  of  a  secret  nature  became 
organized  known  as  the  Union  League.  This  society  had  many  adherents 
in  McLean  County. 

Late  in  1863  a  call  for  300,000  more  men  was  sent  out  by  the  govern- 
ment, and  these  recruits  were  to  be  used  mainly  to  replace  men  killed, 
wounded  or  sick  in  the  regiments  already  in  the  field,  rather  than  to  form- 
ing new  regiments.  The  board  of  supervisors  of  McLean  County,  to  stim- 
ulate enlistments,  offered  a  bounty  of  $150  for  each  recruit,  this  offer 
superseding  one  of  $50  in  1862. 

The  year  1864  witnessed  one  phenomenon  in  the  military  situation 
which  encouraged  the  north  and  correspondingly  disheartened  the  south. 
This  was  the  veteranizing  of  the  regiments  in  the  field  by  the  re-enlist- 
ment of  the  men  who  had  entered  the  service  in  1861  for  three  years. 
More  than  100,000  of  these  veteran  soldiery  were  enrolled,  those  that  ex- 
pressed a  willingness  to  so  re-enlist  being  granted  a  30-days  furlough 
before  entering  on  their  new  term  of  service.  The  county  board  voted 
money  to  entertain  these  veterans  on  their  return  home  for  their  furlough, 
and  hundreds  of  them  enjoyed  this  hospitality.  The  Thirty-third  Illinois, 
the  Normal  regiment,  was  one  of  the  regiments  which  returned  home  in- 
tact, having  been  veteranized  as  a  whole  and  retaining  its  regimental  for- 
mation. The  Thirty-ninth  also  kept  its  organization  practically  intact, 
although  its  men  did  not  get  their  furloughs  all  at  one  time. 

The  number  of  McLean  County  men  re-enlisted  as  veterans  in  the 
different  regiments  to  which  they  belonged,  ranged  from  95  men  in  the 
Thirty-third  to  89  in  the  Thirty-ninth,  30  in  the  Twenty-sixth,  18  in  the* 
Twentieth,  27  in  the  Third  cavalry,  28  in  the  Fifth  cavalry,  18  in  the  Four- 


164  History  of  McLean  County 

teenth  infantry,  18  in  the  Twentieth  infantry,  down  to  6  in  the  Second 
cavalry,  11  in  the  Twenty-third,  7  in  the  Sixty-second,  and  smaller  num- 
bers in  the  Seventh,  Eighth,  Fifteenth,  Sixteenth,  Nineteenth,  Fifty-first, 
Fifty-second,  Fifty-fifth,  Sixty-first,  Sixty-sixth  infantry  and  the  Fourth 
cavalry. 

Owing  to  serious  defects  in  the  forms  of  enlistments  of  the  earlier 
years  of  the  war,  the  quotas  required  of  McLean  County  were  very  heavy 
in  1864,  resulting  in  protest  and  threats  of  united  action  compelling  the 
board  of  supervisors  to  offer  large  rewards,  as  was  done  in  other  counties, 
Lee  County  offering  $1,000  bounty  for  each  volunteer.  The  highest  figure 
here,  however,  was  $300,  and  there  were  sufficient  enlistments  under  this 
bounty,  together  with  the  volunteers  of  the  years  1861  to  1864,  to  com- 
pletely fill  all  the  quotas  required  of  McLean  County,  and  160  men  in 
addition.  This  county  acquired  the  reputation  of  having  raised  a  larger 
super-quota  than  any  other  county  in  Illinois.  The  state  raised  13  regi- 
ments of  100-day  men  between  June  and  October,  1864,  these  troops  be- 
ing used  to  guard  rebel  prisoners,  railroads  and  supplies,  the  regiments 
being  numbered  from  132  to  145.  Col.  George  W.  Lackey  took  with  him 
100  men  from  McLean  County  for  the  145th  infantry,  they  forming  parts 
of  Companies  B,  D,  E,  I  and  K.  P.  B.  Keays  was  captain  of  Company  I. 
Major  I.  W.  Wilmeth  and  70  volunteers  joined  the  146th  regiment,  en- 
listed for  one  year  and  kept  in  service  after  the  close  of  the  war. 

By  the  year  1864,  the  United  States  Sanitary  Commission  was  in 
full  running  order,  and  great  collections  of  supplies  and  moneys  were 
made  here  for  the  use  of  the  soldiers  in  the  field.  No  statistics  were  kept 
as  to  the  exact  amount  of  such  relief  work  performed  in  this  county,  but 
it  was  large.  Money  in  1864  was  mostly  in  greenbacks  or  paper  money, 
gold  dollars  having  gone  up  to  the  price  of  as  high  as  $2.85  in  greenbacks. 
However,  the  latter  was  legal  tender  and  circulated  freely.  The  war  boun- 
ties and  other  public  expenditures  were  paid  in  paper  money.  The  women 
and  children  of  the  county  were  the  ones  on  whom  fell  the  burden  of 
this  relief  work.  They  gave  fairs,  bazaars  and  other  kinds  of  entertain- 
ments and  donated  all  the  proceeds  to  soldier  relief  work.  This  kind  of 
work  was  continued  in  behalf  of  the  families  of  soldiers  until  and  even 
after  the  soldiers  returned  from  the  army  and  until  they  became  again 
self-supporting. 


History  of  McLean  County  165 

The  presidential  election  in  the  fall  of  1864  took  first  place  in  interest 
even  above  the  military  operations  of  our  armies.  The  Democrats  nom- 
inated Gen.  George  B.  McClellan  to  oppose  Abraham  Lincoln,  and  adopted 
a  "peace  plank"  in  their  national  platform,  calling  for  immediate  efforts 
to  end  the  war.  Lincoln,  of  course,  was  triumphantly  elected,  receiving  a 
majority  of  110  electoral  votes,  which  constituted  a  majority  over  the  21 
votes  given  to  McClellan  and  the  81  electoral  votes  which  belonged  to  the 
seceded  states.  Lincoln  carried  McLean  County  by  a  good  sized  majority 
in  spite  of  the  absence  of  thousands  of  soldier  votes,  the  figures  in  his 
favor  being  1,419. 

With  the  end  of  the  war  near,  according  to  all  indications,  a  call  came 
near  the  end  of  1864  for  300,000  more  volunteers.  Early  in  the  year  1865, 
McLean  County  mustered  in  two  companies  of  one-year  men  for  the  150th 
Illinois  infantry.  Among  its  officers  were  Lieut.  Col.  G.  W.  Keener  of  Old 
Town;  Capt.  J.  H.  Stout  of  Company  A,  and  Capt.  W.  B.  Lawrence  of 
Company  B.  Then  Capt.  I.  P.  Strayer  of  Lexington  and  35  men  joined 
the  154th  regiment,  and  20  men  enrolled  for  the  155th.  The  county's 
quota  for  the  December  call  was  576  men,  and  when  the  enlistments  were 
checked  up  it  was  found  that  the  county  had  overenlisted  by  160  men.  It 
was  estimated  that  the  county  sent  all  told  into  the  service  3,500  men. 

Soon  after  the  war,  a  movement  for  the  building  of  a  monument  to 
those  who  had  died  in  the  service  was  started,  and  in  1869  a  tall  shaft 
was  erected  in  Franklin  park  in  Bloomington.  This  shaft  contained  the 
names  of  700  men  who  had  met  death  in  the  war.  But  its  record  was  in- 
complete and  even  more  than  that  number  had  died. 

After  being  subjected  to  the  elements  for  many  years,  this  monu- 
ment began  to  crumble.  A  movement  for  the  building  of  a  larger  and 
better  memorial  to  the  soldiers  of  the  county  was  begun  about  1911,  and 
in  consequence  the  board  of  supervisors  voted  a  fund  of  $50,000  for  this 
purpose.  After  two  years  of  diligent  work,  the  names  of  every  soldier 
who  had  served  in  the  Civil  and  the  Spanish  wars  was  compiled  by  Capt. 
J.  H.  Burnham  and  J.  Dwight  Frink,  who  had  been  employed  by  the  board 
to  collect  the  names  for  the  new  monument.  Mr.  Frink  was  the  designer 
of  the  shaft,  a  gigantic  piece  of  Georgian  granite  which  was  erected  at 
the  entrance  to  Miller  park  in  Bloomington.  On  bronze  tablets  within  this 
monument  are  the  names  of  the  soldiers  compiled  by  Messrs.  Burnham 


166  History  of  McLean  County 

and  Frink,  over  6,000  names  being  perpetuated  each  with  his  regiment 
and  company  and  rank.  This  great  monument  was  dedicated  with  impos- 
ing ceremonies  on  May  30,  Decoration  Day,  in  the  year  1913. 

Spanish -American  War. 

McLean  County  was  again  called  to  arms,  along  with  other  parts  of 
this  state  and  the  nation,  in  April,  1898,  when  the  United  States  govern- 
ment, under  the  leadership  of  President  William  McKinley,  declared  war 
against  Spain  as  the  result  of  her  continued  brutalities  against  Cuba,  in 
which  she  had  ignored  the  repeated  warnings  of  our  government.  The 
misrule  of  Spain  in  Cuba  was  brought  to  a  climax,  so  far  as  our  interest 
in  the  matter  was  concerned,  when  the  U.  S.  Battleship  Maine  was  blown 
up  in  the  harbor  of  Havana  on  the  night  of  February  15,  1898.  Feeling 
was  so  aroused  in  this  country  that  on  March  21  congress  passed  a  reso- 
lution demanding  that  Spain  withdraw  and  relinquish  her  authority  over 
the  island  of  Cuba,  and  authorizing  the  president  to  use  the  armed  forces 
of  the  United  States  to  enforce  this  demand. 

The  Governor  of  Illinois  was  called  upon  for  seven  regiments  as  the 
state's  quota.  The  state  militia  was  first  called  into  service  and  offered 
to  the  federal  government.  Bloomington  had  two  companies  in  the  state 
military  service,  Company  D  of  the  Fifth  infantry  and  Troop  B  of  the 
First  Illinois  cavalry.  Soon  after  the  call,  Troop  B  was  divided  and  re- 
cruited to  the  strength  of  two  full  troops,  known  as  Troop  B  and  Troop  G. 
Capt.  Edward  Y.  Miller  was  commander  of  the  infantry  company,  Capt. 
W.  P.  Butler  of  Troop  B,  and  Capt.  Edward  Butler  of  Troop  G. 

There  was  also  later  a  company  of  colored  troops  organized  here,  which 
became  Company  G  of  the  Eighth  Illinois  regiment.  It  was  commanded 
by  Capt.  Julius  Witherspoon. 

The  three  units  of  the  militia  proceeded  to  the  state  fair  grounds  in 
Springfield,  on  April  27.  Prior  to  its  departure,  Troop  B  was  presented 
with  a  flag  by  the  members  of  the  D.  A.  R.  The  women  friends  and  rela- 
tives of  Troop  G  also  gave  them  a  flag,  while  the  members  of  Company  G 
were  given  a  flag  by  the  colored  women  of  the  city.  At  Springfield  the 
troops  were  mustered  into  the  federal  service  and  on  May  14  departed  for 
camp  at  Chickamauga,  Tenn.  The  cavalrymen  remained  in  camp  at  Chick- 
amauga  during  the  summer!  The  troops  at  that  place  suffered  much  from 
disease  due  partly  to  the  kind  of  food  they  had.    Several  members  of  the 


History  of  McLean  County  167 

two  McLean  County  troops  were  among  the  sufferers.  The  cavalry  regi- 
ments were  finally  sent  to  Fort  Sheridan  after  the  close  of  the  war,  and  on 
Oct.  11.  were  mustered  out.  The  flags  which  the  two  troops  carried  dur- 
ing their  encampment  became  the  property  of  the  McLean  County  His- 
torical Society. 

The  Fifth  regiment,  with  its  McLean  County  company,  on  Aug.  3, 
set  out  for  Newport  News  to  embark  for  Porto  Rico.  They  boarded  the 
transport  Obdam,  but  before  they  sailed  the  word  went  out  that  no  more 
troops  were  needed.  The  Fifth  disembarked  on  Aug.  18  and  went  to  Lex- 
ington, Ky.,  thence  to  Springfield  to  be  mustered  out  Oct.  16th. 

The  organization  of  the  colored  company  in  this  county  was  in  re- 
sponse to  a  call  for  a  colored  regiment  for  duty  in  Porto  Rico,  where  the 
climate  is  unsuitable  for  white  men.  The  regiment  was  mustered  into 
the  federal  service  and  sailed  from  New  York  for  Porto  Rico  on  Aug.  18th. 
It  landed  at  Santiago,  where  it  did  garrison  duty  until  March  11,  1899, 
when  it  returned  to  the  United  States  and  was  mustered  out  April  3, 
1899. 


CHAPTER  XL 


SCHOOLS. 


PIONEER  TEACHERS— FIRST  SCHOOLS — FREE  SCHOOL  LAW — SCHOOL  LANDS — 
PROMINENT  EDUCATORS — PAROCHIAL  SCHOOLS— OTHER  SCHOOLS — ERA  OF 
DEVELOPMENT  OF  PUBLIC  SCHOOLS  IN  THE  COUNTY. 

The  first  school  teacher  in  McLean  County  was  Delilah  Mullin,  after- 
ward Mrs.  William  Evans.  The  first  school  was  held  in  the  home  of  John 
Dawson  at  Blooming  Grove.  It  was  a  subscription  school.  Miss  Mullin 
herself  drew  up  a  paper  and  went  around  among  the  families  living  near 
Blooming  Grove  in  1825  and  those  who  signed  could  send  their  children 
to  her  school  at  $2.50  each.  The  school  began  May  1,  1825.  John  Dawson 
gave  the  free  use  of  his  house  for  the  purpose,  it  being  a  new  log  house 
which  he  had  just  built,  and  he  continued  to  use  his  old  one  for  a  home. 
Four  of  the  teacher's  own  brothers  and  sisters  were  among  her  pupils  at 
the  start.  She  had  taught  the  school  for  a  short  time  when  she  was 
married  to  William  Evans,  but  the  day  following  the  wedding  she  went 
back  and  resumed  her  school.  The  school  numbered  about  17  scholars  in 
all!  Text  books  were  scarce  and  an  almanac  served  the  purpose.  William 
Evans,  the  husband  of  the  pioneer  teacher,  afterward  built  the  first  cabin 
in  the  tract  of  land  which  became  the  original  town  of  Bloomington. 
James  Allin,  the  "father  of  Bloomington,"  afterward  bought  out  the  claim 
of  the  Evanses  and  they  moved  to  the  Mackinaw  timber  near  Lexington. 
The  Evans  family  later  moved  to  Missouri,  then  to  Texas,  where  Mr. 
Evans  died.    Mrs.  Evans  died  in  Texas  in  1888. 

Dr.  Tribue,  a  Frenchman,  taught  the  second  school  in  the  winter  of 
1825-26,  and  the  next  teacher  was  William  Hodge.    In  these  latter  schools, 

168 


170  History  of  McLean  County 

reading,  writing  and  arithmetic  were  taught.  Home-made  ink  and  goose 
quills  for  pens  were  used. 

The  earliest  report  of  public  money  being  used  for  school  purposes 
was  in  1836-7,  when  Bloomington  and  Danvers  townships  were  credited 
with  payments  for  tuition  to  teachers.  James  Lincoln  is  on  record  as 
having  taught  a  school  in  1839  near  Leroy,  and  Vickers  Fell  a  school  in 
Randolph  in  1840. 

Mrs.  Virginia  Graves  taught  a  school  southwest  of  Bloomington  in 
1845.  The  tuition  was  one  dollar  a  scholar,  and  the  trustees  were  Dr. 
Johnson,  Isaac  Mitchell  and  a  Mr.  Kitchel.  Mrs.  Graves  said  she  got  $10 
and  ague  for  the  first  four  months.  In  1847,  she  taught  at  Selma,  in  this 
county.  In  the  years  following,  the  teacher  was  paid  part  of  the  salary 
from  public  funds,  according  to  schedule  of  days  taught  and  number  of 
pupils  attending.  The  free  school  act  of  1855  authorized  the  raising  of 
school  funds  by  taxation. 

Along  in  the  late  '30s,  Lemuel  Foster  built  a  school  house  of  his  own 
in  Bloomington,  to  which  students  were  admitted  on  payment  of  tuition. 
This  building  stood  many  years  after  Foster's  death.  He  was  succeeded 
by  George  W.  Minier  and  he  by  Dr.  Finley.  In  1856  Rev.  Robert  Conover 
established  a  female  seminary  in  Bloomington,  which  he  successfully  con- 
ducted for  many  years.  Another  attempt  to  maintain  a  private  girls' 
school  was  made  by  Elder  William  T.  Major,  who  erected  a  building  in 
the  north  part  of  town,  which  became  known  as  Major's  College.  It  con- 
tinued until  many  other  institutions  arose  and  it  could  not  keep  pace.  The 
property  finally  fell  to  the  Wesleyan  University  and  was  sold  for  resi- 
dence purposes. 

Among  the  other  teachers  of  private  schools  in  Bloomington  in  the 
early  days  may  be  mentioned  Amasa  C.  Washburn,  Prof.  Daniel  Wilkin, 
Mrs.  J.  N.  Ward,  nee  Martha  Tompkins,  Rev.  E.  S.  McCaughey  and  Mrs. 
Gildersleeve. 

For  two  years  following  the  passage  of  the  free  school  law  of  1855, 
several  different  public  schools  were  maintained  in  Bloomington,  and  in 
1857  these  were  consolidated  under  the  management  of  a  board  of  educa- 
tion. This  was  the  real  starting  of  the  public  school  system  of  the  city. 
The  first  members  of  the  board  of  education  were  C.  P.  Merriman,  R.  0. 
Warriner,  O.  T.  Reeves,  E.  R.  Roe,  Eliel  Barber,  Samuel  Gallagher  and 
Henry  Richardson.     The  board  submitted  to  the  city  council  an  estimate 


History  of  McLean  County  171 

of  $12,000  to  build  four  school  houses,  which  the  council  declined  to  levy, 
on  the  plea  that  it  would  be  burdensome.  The  board  employed  Abraham 
Lincoln  to  bring  action  for  mandamus  to  compel  the  council  to  make  the 
levy,  but  a  compromise  was  effected  before  the  action  was  taken.  The 
first  permanent  school  structure  was  erected  for  $6,000  in  what  was 
known  as  the  fourth  ward,  afterward  the  Emerson  school  district.  This 
structure  housed  the  first  high  school,  started  about  1858.  The  first  class 
was  graduated  from  the  high  school  in  1864  and  consisted  of  two  pupils. 
A  few  years  later  the  high  school  was  moved  to  a  building  at  Monroe  and 
Oak  streets,  and  then  in  1895  to  the  then  stupendous  structure  at  Monroe 
and  Prairie  street.  This  remained  the  high  school  until  1916,  when  the 
last  move  was  made  to  the  half  million  dollar  structure  on  East  Washing- 
ton, between  McLean  and  Evans.  This  was  a  period  of  steady  growth 
for  the  city  schools,  the  enrollment  in  the  schools  having  reached  3,395 
by  the  year  1878.  The  school  buildings  at  that  time  represented  expendi- 
tures of  $228,000.  The  superintendents  during  the  first  twenty  years  were 
D.  Wilkins,  Gilbert  Thayer,  Ira  J.  Bloomfield,  C.  P.  Merriman,  J.  H.  Burn- 
ham,  John  Monroe,  John  F.  Gowdy,  A.  H.  Thompson,  S.  M.  Etter,  S.  D. 
Gaylord,  and  Miss  Sarah  E.  Raymond.  Miss  Raymond,  who  served  as 
superintendent  of  schools  for  twenty  years,  was  one  of  the  first  women 
in  Illinois  to  occupy  such  a  position. 

In  the  less  thickly  populated  parts  of  McLean  County,  outside  of 
Bloomington,  the  schools  had  comparatively  slower  growth.  The  county 
superintendent  in  1878  recorded  a  total  of  361  pupils  enrolled  in  the  schools 
of  the  county  outside  of  Bloomington.  The  census  showed  761  children 
of  school  age  outside  Bloomington.  The  expenditures  in  the  rural  dis- 
tricts were  $4,406  per  year.  There  were  nine  school  districts,  which  had 
buildings  valued  at  $10,000.  Some  of  the  early  teachers  outside  of  Bloom- 
ington mentioned  in  the  histories  were  Hosea  Stout  at  Stout's  Grove  and 
A.  C.  Washburn  of  Buckles  Grove,  near  Leroy.  The  rural  schools  of  those 
days  were  "loud  schools,"  that  is,  the  pupils  studied  their  lessons  out  loud, 
and  oftener  the  louder  the  better. 

One  of  the  earliest  federal  laws  was  that  providing  for  the  division 
of  the  public  lands  into  townships  and  sections,  and  providing  that  section 
16  of  every  township  should  be  held  for  the  maintenance  of  public  schools. 
This  law  set  aside  985,066  acres  in  McLean  County  for  school  purposes. 
But  owing  to  the  pressing  need  of  money  in  the  early  days,  every  town- 


172  History  of  McLean  County 

ship  in  the  county  except  West  sold  its  school  lands,  the  sums  realized 
from  such  sales  ranging  from  $798  in  Cheney's  Grove  township  to  $12,620 
in  Anchor  township.  The  price  per  acre  at  which  sales  were  made  ranged 
from  $1.30  in  Danvers  to  $25  in  Yates. 

The  outbreak  of  the  Civil  war  checked  the  progress  of  the  schools, 
both  in  Bloomington  and  throughout  the  county.  Many  teachers  resigned 
either  to  enter  the  army  or  to  take  up  some  work  connected  with  war. 
After  the  war,  renewed  interest  in  school  matters  was  apparent,  and  in 
1868,  the  building  erected  in  the  northeast  part  of  Bloomington  became 
known  as  No.  1.  It  was  the  direct  predecessor  of  the  present  Franklin 
school.  It  would  hold  600  pupils  in  its  various  rooms.  In  the  same  year 
a  new  and  what  was  considered  a  very  large  and  modern  high  school  build- 
ing was  erected  at  the  corner  of  Monroe  and  Oak  streets,  costing  $30,354. 
This  structure  continued  to  house  the  high  school  until  1895.  Afterward 
it  was  torn  down  and  the  lot  where  it  stood  is  vacant,  although  still  owned 
by  the  board  of  education. 

One  of  the  most  remarkable  personages  connected  with  the  public 
school  system  in  its  formative  period  was  Miss  Sarah  E.  Raymond,  after- 
ward Mrs.  F.  J.  Fitzwilliam.  She  entered  the  school  system  in  1868  in 
charge  of  "Old  Barn"  school.  The  next  year  she  was  made  principal  of 
the  district.  In  1873,  B.  P.  Marsh,  who  had  filled  the  principalship  of  the 
high  school,  resigned  to  enter  the  medical  profession,  and  Miss  Raymond 
was  chosen  to  succeed  him  at  a  salary  of  $1,200  per  year.  The  following 
year,  on  the  resignation  of  Mr.  Gaylord  as  superintendent  of  the  city 
schools,  Miss  Raymond  was  chosen  to  the  place.  This  was  the  first  time 
a  woman  had  been  selected  to  a  place  of  this  importance.  Although  ham- 
pered by  prejudice  on  account  of  her  sex,  Miss  Raymond  began  a  pro- 
gressive policy,  and  her  superintendency  marked  a  period  of  progress  in 
all  school  work.  The  schools  of  Bloomington  made  a  very  creditable  ex- 
hibition of  their  work  at  the  Centennial  Exposition  at  Philadelphia  in 
1876.  In  1880  the  Bloomington  high  school  was  placed  on  the  accredited 
list  of  the  University  of  Illinois.  Miss  Raymond  finally  retired  from  the 
city  superintendency  in  1892,  having  served  eighteen  years.  She  was 
elected  for  the  nineteenth  time  to  the  position  in  July,  1892,  but  she  de- 
clined and  announced  her  retirement  from  active  school  work.  Later  she 
was  married  to  Capt.  Fitzwilliam,  lived  in  Chicago  for  many  years,  and 
died  there. 


History  of  McLean  County  173 

Up  to  December,  1895,  the  schools  of  Bloomington  had  been  known 
by  numbers,  according  to  the  wards  in  which  they  were  located,  as  No.  1 
school,  No.  2  school,  and  so  on.  In  that  month  the  board  of  education 
decided  to  name  each  school  for  some  distinguished  person.  Accordingly, 
No.  1  was  called  Franklin,  No.  2  Edwards,  the  Jefferson  street  school  was 
called  Jefferson,  No.  3  was  named  Irving,  No.  4  was  called  Emerson,  the 
new  building  erected  at  Washington  and  State  streets  was  named  Wash- 
ington, and  No.  5  school  was  named  Sheridan.  The  No.  2  school  was  named 
in  honor  of  a  Bloomington  citizen,  Dr.  Richard  Edwards,  who  had  been 
president  of  the  Normal  University  and  superintendent  of  schools  for  the 
state  of  Illinois.  Later  the  school  in  Stevensonville  was  named  Raymond 
in  honor  of  Miss  Raymond,  and  the  Fifth  ward  school  was  named  Haw- 
thorne. The  name  of  Hawthorne  school  was  changed  in  1923  to  that  of 
the  Horatio  G.  Bent  school,  in  honor  of  Mr.  Bent,  who  had  spent  many 
years  in  the  service  of  the  board  of  education. 

The  high  school  building,  at  Prairie  and  Monroe  streets  was  dedicated 
Jan.  1,  1897.  Rev.  W.  S.  Marquis,  a  graduate  of  the  Bloomington  high 
school,  was  the  orator  of  the  occasion.  At  this  time  appeared  the  first 
issue  of  the  high  school  Aegus,  which  was  projected  as  a  monthly  publica- 
tion, but  later  became  the  Year  Book. 

E.  M.  Van  Petten  was  elected  superintendent  of  city  schools  in  1892 
to  succeed  Miss  Raymond.  He  was  educated  at  the  Peoria  County  normal 
school  and  at  the  Illinois  Wesleyan.  He  came  from  Joliet,  where  he  had 
taught  six  years.  One  of  the  first  improvements  under  his  regime  was  the 
building  of  the  new  Lincoln  school  in  the  south  part  of  the  city.  In  May, 
1895,  action  was  begun  toward  purchasing  a  site  for  a  new  high  school, 
and  the  lots  on  the  north  side  of  Monroe  between  Prairie  and  Gridley  were 
chosen.  The  building  was  completed  in  1896  and  dedicated  on  Jan.  1, 
1897.  The  present  Franklin  school  building  was  erected  in  1899  at  a  cost 
of  $25,000. 

In  September,  1899,  Francis  M.  Funk,  who  had  been  a  member  of  the 
board  of  education  for  21  years,  and  president  for  six  years,  died,  with 
a  remarkable  record  of  service.  Horatio  G.  Bent,  who  had  been  elected 
on  the  board  in  1893,  was  chosen  to  succeed  Mr.  Funk  as  president.  The 
schools  of  Bloomington  took  a  prominent  part  in  the  celebration  of  the 
fiftieth  anniversary  of  the  incorporation  of  Bloomington,  which  took  place 
on  May  3,  1900. 


174  History  of  McLean  County 

Mr.  Van  Petten  resigned  as  superintendent  of  schools  in  1901,  and 
John  K.  Stableton  was  chosen  to  succeed  him.  Mr.  Stableton  was  a  grad- 
uate of  Ohio  Wesleyan,  took  a  course  in  Harvard,  taught  in  Nebraska, 
and  was  superintendent  at  Charleston,  111.,  when  he  was  brought  to  Bloom- 
ington.  He  began  a  career  as  superintendent  here  in  1901,  and  served 
continuously  until  1920.  The  term  of  Prof.  Stableton  saw  many  changes 
in  the  public  schools.  It  witnessed  the  building  of  the  present  handsome 
high  school  on  Washington,  between  Evans  and  McLean,  and  also  sev- 
eral of  the  modern  grade  school  buildings.  It  witnessed  the  enlargement 
of  the  high  school  faculty  and  the  introduction  of  many  new  courses.  It 
saw  the  employment  of  supervisors  for  many  departments  in  the  grade 
schools,  such  as  music,  domestic  science,  art,  manual  training.  Printing 
as  one  of  the  branches  of  instruction  was  introduced  and  placed  in  charge 
of  Miss  Etta  Walker,  afterward  Mrs.  Charles  Brokaw.  Many  other  inno- 
vations and  improvements  came  about  during  his  superintendency.  He 
left  the  city  after  his  resignation  in  1920,  and  now  lives  on  a  farm  in  Ohio. 

S.  K.  McDowell  succeeded  to  the  superintendency  of  the  Bloomington 
schools,  coming  here  from  Aurora.  He  had  taught  in  this  county  in  his 
earlier  years.  Many  additional  changes  and  improvements  have  been  in- 
troduced under  his  regime. 

The  complete  list  of  city  superintendents  from  the  first  is  as  follows: 
Daniel  Wilkins,  Gilbert  Thayer,  Gen.  Ira  J.  Bloomfield,  C.  P.  Merriman, 
J.  H.  Burnham,  John  Monroe,  John  Goudy,  A.  H.  Thompson,  S.  M.  Etter, 
S.  D.  Gaylord,  Sarah  E.  Raymond,  Edwin  M.  VanPetten,  John  K.  Stable- 
ton,  S.  K.  McDowell. 

The  following  have  been  president  of  the  board  of  education  from  the 
earliest  times  until  now:  C.  P.  Merriman,  E.  R.  Roe,  Eliel  Barber,  M.  W. 
Packard,  John  A.  Jackman,  Jacob  Jacoby,  Dr.  F.  C.  Vandervort,  Francis 
M.  Funk,  Horatio  G.  Bent,  Jesse  E.  Hoffman. 

The  school  affairs  of  the  town  of  Normal  date  back  beyond  the  incor- 
poration of  the  town  itself,  for  the  school  district  was  first  formed.  The 
first  school  was  opened  in  September,  1856,  with  Mary  Shannon  as  teacher. 
Later  W.  O.  Davis,  afterward  proprietor  of  the  Pantagraph  newspaper 
for  many  years,  was  employed  as  teacher.  The  movement  was  early  start- 
ed to  send  the  children  of  Normal  citizens  to  the  practice  department  of 
the  Normal  University.  The  first  graduating  class  of  the  model  school 
was  in  1865.     The  model  school  and  the  public  school  were  one  and  the 


History  of  McLean  County 


175 


176  History  of  McLean  County 

same  for  many  years.  In  the  year  1868  the  two  were  divorced  and  the 
public  school  occupied  a  building  just  erected  at  Ash  and  School  streets. 
Henry  McCormick  was  first  principal.  After  a  long  period  of  separation, 
the  two  systems  were  united  by  vote  in  1901.  The  high  school  of  Normal 
had  been  placed  upon  the  accredited  list  of  the  University  of  Illinois  in 
1897.  The  old  building  which  had  been  remodeled  many  times,  was 
finally  torn  down  and  a  modern  structure  erected  in  1914.  The  following 
is  the  list  of  men  who  have  served  as  principal  of  the  schools  from  the 
first:  Henry  McCormick,  1868;  Aaron  Gove,  1869;  Joseph  Carter,  1874; 
A.  C.  Butler,  1878;  A.  M.  Scott,  1880;  J.  V.  McHugh,  1882;  John  W.  Gib- 
son, 1883 ;  David  A.  Reed,  1884 ;  Mrs.  J.  A.  Miller,  1885 ;  John  Glatf elter, 
1886;  C.  W.  Harriman,  1887;  Mrs.  Hattie  Hoffman,  1888;  E.  B.  Smith, 
1891;  E.  A.  Fritter,  1896  to  1907;  Herbert  Bassett,  1907-08;  E.  W.  Davis, 
1908-13 ;  C.  F.  Miller,  1913-22 ;  L.  W.  Ragland,  1922-24. 

In  Bloomington,  in  addition  to  the  public  school  system  is  an  exten- 
sive system  of  parochial  or  church  schools,  including  the  schools  of  Holy 
Trinity  parish,  the  schools  of  St.  Patrick's  parish,  those  of  St.  Mary's 
German  Catholic  church,  and  the  Lutheran  or  Trinity  Lutheran  school. 
St.  Joseph's  academy  is  also  attached  to  Holy  Trinity  Catholic  parish. 
The  academy  was  erected  in  1863  by  Father  Kennedy,  who  placed  it  in 
charge  of  the  Sisters  of  St.  Joseph,  who  continued  in  charge  until  1876, 
when  Father  Kennedy  invited  the  Dominican  Sisters  to  take  charge,  and 
they  are  still  in  control.  On  the  same  block  with  the  academy  was  erected 
in  1884  under  the  Very  Rev.  M.  Weldon  the  St.  Mary's  high  school  build- 
ing, which  cost  $26,000.  The  primary  and  grammar  grades  and  a  high 
school  course  are  taught  here.  In  St.  Joseph's  academy  the  musical  course 
is  emphasized,  and  there  is  a  large  attendance  of  girls.  Some  ten  years 
ago  or  more,  the  sisters  purchased  the  whole  block  of  ground  to  the  west 
of  Holy  Trinity  church  between  Locust  and  Chestnut  streets.  It  had  been 
the  long-time  homestead  of  J.  W.  Milner,  one  of  the  city's  pioneers.  The 
large  house  and  grounds  were  converted  to  the  use  of  the  girls  attending 
the  academy  and  convent,  and  it  was  christened  St.  Joseph's  Hall. 

St.  Patrick's  parish  was  created  out  of  the  west  end  of  Holy  Trinity 
parish  in  1901,  and  soon  after  the  parish  was  organized  there  was  erected 
a  school  building  adjoining  the  church,  at  1205  West  Locust  street.  This 
is  ample  for  the  work  of  the  school.  The  sisters  also  erected  a  convent 
and  home,  and  the  total  expenditures  represented  about  $15,000. 


HIGH  SCHOOL   BUILDING  AT  LE   ROY,   ILLINOIS. 


HIGH   SCHOOL   BUILDING.    BF.LLFLOW<.^ 


Qh 


History  of  McLean  County  177 

St.  Mary's  German  Catholic  parish  was  organized  in  1867,  and  prop- 
erty in  the  southwest  part  of  city  was  secured.  A  frame  church  was  built 
and  the  school  was  opened  in  1873  by  Rev.  W.  J.  Revis.  Under  the  pas- 
torate of  Rev.  F.  Schreiber  in  1877,  the  Ursuline  Sisters  were  induced  to 
take  charge  of  the  school,  and  they  remained  until  1883.  At  the  request 
of  Bishop  John  L.  Spalding  the  Franciscan  Fathers  of  Cincinnati  took 
charge  of  the  parish,  and  Andrew  Rothmann  conducted  the  school  from 
1883  to  1888,  and  after  that  the  Franciscan  Sisters  took  it  over.  In  1887 
a  fine  brick  church  was  erected,  and  the  old  church  used  for  a  school  until 
1902,  when  a  big  brick  school  house  on  Taylor  street  was  built.  The 
school  is  sustained  by  fees  and  the  general  funds  of  the  church. 

Trinity  Lutheran  school  was  organized  in  1858  soon  after  this  con- 
gregation was  formed.  Rev.  J.  Ruff  was  first  teacher  and  pastor.  In 
1865  the  church  called  its  first  teacher,  J.  Bockhaus,  and  later  came  John 
Brase  and  Mr.  Maar.  The  school  building  on  South  Madison  street  was 
erected  in  1893  at  a  cost  of  $10,000.  The  school  has  four  teachers  at 
present  and  teaches  in  both  the  English  and  the  German  language. 

The  schools  of  the  village  of  Heyworth  had  a  crude  beginning,  for 
the  first  schoolhouse  was  a  single  room  log  cabin,  with  puncheon  floor  and 
hewed  logs  for  benches.  Thomas  Dunham  was  the  first  teacher,  and  he 
was  followed  by  Mary  Elder,  William  Leeper,  J.  W.  Burrows  and  others. 
The  ancestors  of  some  of  the  present  well  known  families  of  Heyworth 
were  pupils  in  this  first  school.  The  school  next  moved  to  a  double  log 
cabin  which  had  been  the  home  of  Campbell  Wakefield,  and  here  a  Mr. 
Conklin  taught,  followed  by  William  Reeves.  A  large  barn  on  the  J.  E. 
Wakefield  place  seemed  to  have  been  the  next  makeshift  for  a  school- 
house,  and  Isaac  Hougham  taught  here.  A  frame  building  erected  by 
Jesse  Funk  near  the  edge  of  the  timber  was  next  used,  after  which  the 
schoolhouse  in  use  was  a  building  on  the  Dr.  Noble  land.  Several  changes 
were  made  before  the  present  district  was  incorporated  n  1866.  The  new 
school  attracted  the  attendance  of  young  men  just  out  of  the  army,  and 
many  of  the  boys  of  those  days  became  men  of  prominence  afterward. 
The  promoters  of  the  incorporated  district  were  C.  Wakefield,  Dr.  H.  Noble, 
Samuel  Hill,  John  Kelley,  I,  Vanordstrand,  D.  Laughlin,  M.  Millins  and 
E.  Philbrook.  In  1898  a  large  brick  building  was  erected,  costing  $14,000. 
The  schools  kept  pace  with  the  times,  and  now  there  is  a  good  community 
high  school. 

(10) 


178  History  of  McLean  County 

The  Williams  school  at  the  head  of  the  Mackinaw  in  the  early  days 
became  the  school  for  the  town  of  Colfax.  After  the  Illinois  Central 
branch  was  built  down  from  Kankakee,  the  village  of  Colfax  was  laid  out 
and  the  Williams  schoolhouse  was  moved  into  town.  In  1883  the  village 
voted  bonds  for  a  new  schoolhouse  and  the  old  one  went  out  of  use.  The 
district  was  reorganized  in  1894  and  a  board  of  education  was  elected.  Two 
rooms  were  added  to  the  building  in  1899,  but  on  Oct.  18,  1900,  the 
whole  structure  was  burned  down.  Schools  were  held  in  the  various 
churches  until  a  new  building  was  erected.  This  building  answered  the 
school  purposes  of  Colfax  for  many  years.  It  was  considered  one  of  the 
best  buildings  of  its  kind  in  the  county  when  it  was  built. 

The  first  schoolhouse  in  Salt  Creek  precinct,  now  the  territory  of 
Empire  township,  was  erected  in  1832  on  section  29  and  was  called  the 
Dickerson  schoolhouse:  When  the  town  of  Leroy  was  laid  out  in  1836, 
the  name  of  the  precinct  was  changed,  and  the  first  schoolhouse  was  built 
south  of  town,  known  as  Clearwater  school.  William  Johnson  was  the 
first  teacher  at  this  school.  In  Leroy  village  James  Lincoln  taught  the 
first  school,  but  it  continued  only  until  cold  weather  set  in,  when  it  had 
to  be  closed.  James  Newell  was  another  early  teacher  in  Leroy.  In  the 
winter  of  1838-9  another  schoolhouse  was  built  of  more  modern  type.  Dr. 
Henry  Conkling  was  first  teacher  here.  David  P.  Bunn  was  the  second 
teacher,  and  he  finally  became  a  Universalist  preacher.  Among  the  other 
teachers  in  Leroy  in  the  formative  period  of  the  schools  may  be  mentioned 
Cheney  Thomas,  afterward  sheriff;  Charles  Richason,  John  Waltemire, 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Adams,  Miss  Emeline  Gibbs,  Archibel  Johnson,  William 
Downton,  Lewis  Vandeventer  and  Prof.  Swingle.  In  1854  the  Cumberland 
Presbyterians  tried  to  establish  a  female  seminary,  but  it  died  after  a 
few  years.  Rev.  Robert  Patten  was  in  charge.  A  large  school  building 
was  erected  in  1864  and  answered  many  years.  The  community  high 
school  which  was  erected  in  1922  is  one  of  the  finest  in  the  county.  The 
men  who  have  been  in  charge  of  Leroy  schools  through  the  years  up  to 
recent  dates  included  John  Long,  Miss  Maltby,  C.  B.  Conkling,  Mr.  Har- 
ris, W.  A.  Monroe,  M.  Huffman,  Noah  Wantling,  D.  C.  Clark,  J.  W.  Barley, 
John  Z.  X.  Wilson,  Mr.  Shirk,  C.  A.  V.  Barley,  M.  Jess,  W.  H.  Chamberlain, 
L.  S.  Kilborn,  J.  W.  Tavenner,  F.  G.  Blair,  B.  F.  Templeton,  B.  C.  Moore, 
C.  J.  Posey,  S.  K.  McDowell. 


History  of  McLean  County  179 

A.  J.  Flesher  was  the  first  teacher  on  record  as  having  received  pub- 
lic funds  for  teaching  at  Lexington.  The  first  building  was  near  the 
present  site  of  the  park  at  Lexington.  Among  the  early  teachers  was 
Bird  S.  Coler,  now  comptroller  of  the  city  of  New  York.  Among  the  other 
early  teachers  were  Miss  Bird,  Miss  Salie,  John  Barnard,  A.  J.  Anderson, 
J.  E.  Wallace  and  Pauline  Mahan.  The  first  substantial  schoolhouse  was 
erected  in  1865.  Among  the  men  who  taught  in  this  structure  was  John 
A.  Sterling,  afterward  for  many  years  member  of  congress.  The  first 
class  graduated  from  the  high  school  was  in  1880.  The  names  of  teach- 
ers during  these  years  included  David  Poor,  J.  W.  Paisley,  David  Fulwiler, 
George  Blount,  L.  S.  Rowell,  J.  W.  Adams,  M.  Jess,  Prof.  Beard,  F.  L. 
Horn,  Ira  M.  Ong,  J.  W.  Nicols,  Jesse  L.  Smith,  P.  W.  Dorsey,  R.  G.  Smith. 
The  present  high  school  was  erected  in  1896  and  cost  $20,750.  The  build- 
ing is  good  for  its  uses.  L.  P.  Scrogin  and  W.  H.  Claggett  personally 
supervised  the  building. 

A  building  of  logs  furnished  the  first  schoolhouse  for  Funk's  Grove 
and  vicinity.  The  simplest  course  of  study  was  pursued  in  the  winter 
months.  The  list  of  teachers  in  the  early  days  included  Reuben  Baker, 
William  Johnson,  Andrew  Biggs,  Andrew  McMillan,  0.  W.  Wiggins,  Wil- 
liam Boltonhouse,  Jonathan  Dow,  Catharine  Caton,  Patrick  O'Brien,  and 
a  Mr.  Fisher.  The  second  schoolhouse  was  built  about  1846-7  and  this 
contained  the  modern  improvements  such  as  glass  windows  and  stove  for 
heating.  Still  other  changes  and  improvements  grew  apace,  and  some 
few  years  ago  the  house  known  as  the  Ben  F.  Funk  school  was  built,  it 
being  the  model  one-room  school  in  the  county  for  many  years.  It  stands 
just  across  the  road  from  the  farm  of  Frank  Funk,  east  of  Funk's  Grove. 

A  distinct  and  well  marked  era  of  development  of  the  schools  of 
the  county  began  about  twenty  years  ago  when  the  movement  gained 
headway  for  the  formation  of  what  were  known  as  community  school 
districts*  This  consisted  of  the  consolidation  in  some  cases  of  parts  of 
several  districts  into  one  larger  district,  thus  providing  a  larger  taxing 
unit  and  furnishing  more  ample  funds  for  modern  school  building  and 
equipment.  Such  a  proposition  developed  opposition  in  many  cases,  and 
several  long  drawn  law  suits  were  carried  on  by  taxpayers  of  certain  loca- 
tions who  objected  to  being  included  in  the  formation  of  a  proposed  dis- 
trict.    The  movement  was  fostered  by  a  law  passed  by  the  Illinois  legis- 


180 


History  of  McLean  County 


lature  which  had  for  its  object  this  very  purpose  of  school  consolidation. 
The  law  itself  was  tested  by  suits  carried  to  the  Supreme  Court  and 
passed  upon  there. 

Benjamin  C.  Moore  was  county  superintendent  of  schools  during  this 
era  of  reorganization  and  modernizing  of  the  schools,  and  he  gave  it  his 
assistance  wherever  it  could  be  done  with  justice  to  all  and  without  in- 
flicting unjust  taxation  in  any  particular  instances.  The  term  of  Mr. 
Moore  in  the  county  superintendent's  office,  covering  twelve  years,  was 
in  many  respects  one  of  the  most  important  era  of  McLean  County  school 
development. 


k 


STANFORD  COMMUNITY  HIGH  SCHOOL 


Mrs.  Nettie  Dement,  the  present  county  superintendent  of  schools, 
who  took  her  office  in  1923,  is  the  first  woman  ever  elected  to  the  position. 

Improved  and  modern  buildings  provided  in  most  of  the  schools  of 
the  county  a  gymnasium  with  its  opportunity  for  indoor  athletic  exer- 
cises, or  otherwise  known  as  indoor  sport.  Hence  within  the  past  15  years 
the  growth  of  school  athletics  has  been  an  outstanding  feature  of  school 
life.  Nearly  every  school  of  McLean  County  has  a  basket  ball  team,  or 
several  of  them,  and  many  of  the  larger  schools  have  football  teams. 


History  of  McLean  County  181 

Basket  ball  tournaments  for  all  the  teams  of  the  county  are  held  every 
winter,  and  some  of  the  smaller  teams  of  the  county  have  at  times  cap- 
tured championship  honors. 


CHAPTER  XII. 


ILLINOIS  WESLEYAN  UNIVERSITY. 


ORGANIZED  IN  1850 — FIRST  PROFESSORS— PRESENT  LOCATION— EARLY  STRUGGLES 
— ADDITIONAL  BUILDINGS — PRESIDENTS — IN  THE  WORLD  WAR — RESOURCES 
— DR.   KEMP — DR.   DAVIDSON— LATEST   STATISTICS. 

As  early  as  1849,  public-spirited  citizens  of  central  Illinois  began  to 
agitate  for  the  establishment  of  a  college  at  Bloomington.  The  minutes 
of  the  Illinois  conference  of  the  Methodist  church  for  1849  show  that  a 
committee  composed  of  Rev.  Thomas  A.  McGhee  and  Rev.  John  S.  Barger 
was  named  to  confer  with  Bloomington  citizens  on  the  subject.  The  first 
meeting  is  believed  to  have  been  held  Dec.  2,  1850,  and  another  on  the  11th 
of  the  same  month.  The  constitution  was  adopted  Dec.  18,  1850,  and  that 
date  is  forever  afterward  celebrated  as  "Founders'  Day."  The  confer- 
ence minutes  of  1850  show  that  a  committee  composed  of  Peter  Cart- 
wright,  John  S.  Barger,  W.  D.  R.  Trotter,  J.  C.  Rucker  and  W.  J.  Newman 
were  named  to  visit  the  Illinois  Wesleyan  at  Bloomington,  hence  it  must 
have  been  fully  organized  at  that  time.  The  Methodists  had  previously 
established  the  Female  College  at  Jacksonville,  Georgetown  and  Paris  and 
Waynesville  seminaries  and  had  started  seminaries  at  Danville,  Marshall 
and  Quincy. 

In  July,  1851,  Rev.  William  Goodfellow  and  Rev.  Reuben  Andrus  were 
elected  professors  and  Rev.  Erastus  Wentworth  as  president.  Wentworth 
did  not  accept,  but  Andrus  and  Goodfellow  conducted  the  school  from 
September,  1851.  In  July,  1852,  Rev.  John  Dempster  was  chosen  presi- 
dent, and  his  name  remained  as  president  for  two  years,  although  he  did 
not  perform  many  of  the  duties  of  president,  as  he  had  taken  a  better  posi- 
tion with  Garrett  Biblical  Institute.  • 

182 


History  of  McLean  County  183 

In  the  session  of  the  Legislature  in  1853,  the  Wesleyan  received  a 
special  charter  vesting  the  ownership  in  the  Illinois  Conference  of  the 
Methodist  Church.  Soon  after  the  organizaton  of  the  corporation,  the 
question  of  a  site  for  the  buildings  came  up.  James  Allin  deeded  a  ten- 
acre  tract  north  of  the  Chicago  &  Alton  Railroad  in  Bloomington,  and 
much  building  material  was  unloaded  there,  when  it  was  discovered  that 
the  site  was  totally  unsuitable,  and  in  June,  1854,  the  present  site  was 
chosen  and  the  materials  removed  from  the  former  site.  The  first  struc- 
ture erected  was  the  small  two-story  brick  long  used  for  the  preparatory 
classes,  and  now  used  for  some  of  the  class  rooms.  Its  use  as  the  library 
was  abandoned  in  1923  on  the  completion  of  the  Buck  Memorial  Library. 

In  the  first  few  years  the  school  led  a  precarious  existence.  On  the 
close  of  the  fall  term  of  1854  work  was  suspended.  In  the  same  months 
Rev.  Peter  Akers  was  elected  president,  but  declined.  In  1855  Rev.  C.  W. 
Sears  was  for  the  second  time  offered  the  presidency,  and  under  his  man- 
agement the  school  reopened  in  October,  1855.  Work  was  again  sus- 
pended in  1856,  owing  to  lack  of  funds  and  the  debts  which  had  accumu- 
lated. In  1857,  Oliver  S.  Munsell  was  elected  president,  although  the 
university  was  little  more  than  a  name.  It  had  ten  acres  of  land  and  the 
bare  walls  of  a  three-story  brick  building,  with  a  debt  of  $5,000,  which 
was  increased  by  $10,000  when  the  building  was  completed.  President 
Munsell  and  his  brother,  Rev.  C.  W.  C.  Munsell,  raised  funds  to  pay  the 
debts  and  start  the  school  again.  Girls  were  admitted  with  equal  rights 
with  boys  as  students  early  in  the  history  of  the  university,  and  co-edu- 
cation has  ever  since  proved  popular. 

By  1868,  a  new  and  larger  building  was  needed,  and  $40,000  was 
raised  for  this  purpose.  The  corner  stone  of  the  main  building  on  the 
campus  was  laid  in  1870,  and  it  was  dedicated  in  June,  1871,  having  cost 
$100,000.  In  addition  to  the  erection  of  the  building,  President  Munsell 
was  instrumental  in  securing  important  natural  history  collections,  in- 
cluding the  R.  H.  Holder  collection  of  ornithology,  Prof.  George  Vasey's 
botannical  collection,  and  Prof.  C.  D.  Wilber's  collection  of  fossils  and 
minerals,  etc. 

Dr.  Munsell  resigned  as  president  in  1873  and  Rev.  Samuel  Fallows 
was  chosen  to  succeed  him.  He  served  two  years  and  left  a  profound 
impression  of  his  scholarship  upon  the  history  of  the  university.  The 
law  school  was  organized  under  his  presidency.     In  1875,  Dr.  W.  H.  H. 


184  History  of  McLean  County 

Adams  became  president  in  succession  to  Bishop  Fallows.  He  had  served 
in  the  Civil  War  and  was  a  man  of  great  energy  and  ability.  He  increased 
the  funds  of  the  university,  raising  the  endowment  to  over  $72,000.  For 
13  years  he  served  with  fidelity  and  unending  effort  for  every  cause  of 
the  school.    He  literally  gave  his  life  for  Wesleyan. 

In  1888,  Dr.  W.  H.  Wilder,  who  had  graduated  in  1873,  was  elected 
president  of  Wesleyan,  and  served  until  1897.  An  athletic  field,  named 
Wilder  field  in  his  honor,  was  acquired  while  he  was  president.  About 
$15,000  was  expended  in  improvements,  including  ground  for  janitor's 
house  and  gymnasium.  The  H.  S.  Swayne  and  Shellenbarger  chemical 
laboratories  were  added  to  the  science  department.  The  Lichtenthaler 
collection  of  sea  specimens,  the  G.  B.  Harrison  collection  of  fossils,  and 
the  Weems  archaelogical  collections  were  added  during  this  period.  A.  C. 
Behr  gave  the  university  a  telescope,  for  which  a  suitable  building  was 
erected. 

Dr.  Edgar  M.  Smith  served  as  president  from  1897  to  1905,  during 
which  time  a  period  of  steady  growth  was  maintained,  although  no  out- 
standing additions  were  made.  In  1905,  Dr.  Frank  G.  Barnes  was  chosen 
president  and  came  to  the  school  with  a  young  man's  enthusiasm.  Dur- 
ing his  term,  Andrew  Carnegie  gave  $30,000  for  a  Science  Hail,  provided 
$60,000  were  raised  as  an  endowment,  which  was  successfully  accom- 
plished. 

However,  the  required  $60,000  was  not  wholly  secured  when  Presi- 
dent Barnes  resigned  and  Dr.  Theodore  Kemp  was  chosen  to  succeed  him. 
This  was  in  1908.  Dr.  Kemp  at  once  raised  the  balance  of  $18,000  to 
close  the  Carnegie  contract  and  secure  the  Science  Hall.  The  building  of 
this  structure  was  the  first  new  building  which  had  been  done  on  the 
campus  in  a  period  of  forty-two  years. 

Like  all  the  other  schools  of  the  country,  the  Wesleyan  University 
lost  many  of  the  young  men  from  its  classes  during  the  spring  and  fall 
of  1917,  for  they  answered  the  call  to  the  colors  and  served  in  many 
branches  of  the  army  and  navy.  Several  gold  stars  were  added  to  Wes- 
leyan's  service  flag  before  the  war  was  over,  and  a  memorial  service  after 
the  close  of  the  war  took  note  of  the  following  Wesleyan  men  who  had 
died  for  liberty:  George  Herman  Anna,  Lyle  Best,  Howard  Bolin,  Elmer 
T.  Doocey,  Vergne  Greiner,  Allington  Jolly,  Sergt.  Lemuel  Jones,  Frank 


OFJHS. 


NORTH    BUILDING,    ILLINOIS    WESLEYAN    UNIVERSITY. 


MAIN    BUILDING,    ILLINOIS    WESLEYAN    UNIVERSITY. 


History  of  McLean  County 


185 


186  History  of  McLean  County 

Jordan,  Henry  R.  Peckmann,  Herbert  Quarnstrom,  William  Ralston,  Mau- 
rice Roberts,  Edmund  W.  Sutherland. 

In  the  opening  of  the  fall  term  in  1918,  Wesleyan,  like  many  other 
colleges,  became  in  fact  a  military  academy  by  the  formation  there  of  the 
Student  Army  Training  Corps,  sponsored  and  managed  by  the  war  depart- 
ment of  the  government.  All  academic  work  was  planned  on  military 
lines,  and  drills  were  carried  on  certain  hours  each  day  under  Captain 
Wheaton,  a  regular  army  officer  assigned  to  this  camp.  Barracks  were 
erected  on  the  vacant  ground  north  of  the  campus,  at  a  cost  of  $25,000, 
this  fund  being  guaranteed  by  Bloomington  business  men,  who  were  later 
reimbursed  by  the  government.  But  the  war  ended  all  plans  on  this  line, 
and  in  fact  the  armistice  came  before  the  S.  A.  T.  C.  had  a  chance  to  show 
its  true  worth  as  a  military  asset  of  the  country. 

Dr.  Kemp  continued  in  the  office  of  president  for  14  years,  resigned 
May,  1922.  In  that  period  was  covered  a  period  of  renewed  growth  for 
the  school,  which  for  some  years  previously  had  been  caught  in  a  season 
of  depression  and  stagnation.  There  was  a  debt  of  $57,000  against  the 
school,  owing  to  many  years'  annual  deficits.  The  endowment  fund  aggre- 
gated only  $131,783,  which  with  other  resources  of  $185,500  made  the 
total  property  of  the  school  amount  to  only  $327,283.  During  the  incum- 
bency of  President  Kemp  the  endowment  fund  was  increased  to  $869,366 ; 
other  general  assets  were  raised  to  $232,807 ;  and  the  buildings  and 
grounds  were  appraised  at  $364,600;  making  total  resources  of  the  Uni- 
versity $1,466,774. 

The  greatest  campaign  for  funds  ever  undertaken  in  the  history  of 
the  Wesleyan  was  that  of  June,  1921,  when  in  a  strenuous  drive  of  one 
month's  duration  a  total  of  $692,000  was  pledged  by  citizens  of  Bloom- 
ington and  McLean  County.  This  made  the  grand  total  of  resources  at 
the  close  of  Dr.  Kemp's  term,  $2,158,774.  Debts  aggregating  $110,000 
were  paid  off  during  the  same  period.  There  were  also  bequests  written 
into  wills  but  not  yet  realized  during  this  term  of  years.  The  total  assets 
of  the  university  at  the  close  of  President  Kemp's  incumbency  indicated 
that  five  times  as  much  money  had  been  subscribed  or  written  into  wills 
in  the  fourteen  years  as  had  been  previously  obtained  in  the  fifty-eight 
years  of  the  university's  history.  E.  M.  Evans,  as  chairman  of  the  Asso- 
ciation of  Commerce  Committee  on  Wesleyan  Affairs  had  charge  of  this 
campaign  and  put  in  many  strenuous  days  in  planning  for  it.    He  had  the 


History  of  McLean  County  187 

assistance  and  co-operation  of  hundreds  of  citizens  who  gave  up  their 
own  business  to  a  large  extent  during  the  campaign. 

Dr.  Kemp  was  personally  instrumental  in  securing  the  girls'  dormi- 
tory and  adding  it  to  the  property  of  the  Wesleyan.  This  was  the  magnifi- 
cent three-story  brick  residence  built  by  A.  E.  DeMange  on  Main  Street, 
two  blocks  from  the  campus.  It  was  bought  on  President  Kemp's  per- 
sonal responsibility  for  $30,000  and  it  was  several  years  later  that  the 
funds  were  forthcoming  for  making  good  the  personal  risk  which  Dr. 
Kemp  had  incurred  for  the  building.  The  attendance  at  the  Wesleyan 
increased  in  corresponding  ratio  with  its  material  growth.  The  enroll- 
ment in  the  liberal  arts  college  grew  from  174  to  352.  The  law  school 
also  had  a  healthy  growth. 

The  board  of  trustees  in  July,  1922,  selected  Rev.  Dr.  William  J. 
Davidson  as  president  of  the  Wesleyan.  At  the  time  of  his  selection,  he 
was  executive  secretary  of  the  life  service  commission  of  the  Methodist 
Church,  with  headquarters  in  Chicago.  He  holds  the  degree  of  LL.  D. 
from  Nebraska  Wesleyan,  the  degree  of  S.  T.  B.  and  D.D.  from  Garrett 
Biblical  Institute,  and  had  performed  undergraduate  work  at  Boston  Col- 
lege, Cornell  and  Harvard.  For  28  years  he  was  member  of  the  Illinois 
Conference  and  two  years  was  chancellor  of  Nebraska  Wesleyan.  After 
six  years  of  pastorate  of  First  M.  E.  Church  in  Decatur,  he  returned  to 
Garrett  Biblical  Institute  as  professor  of  religious  education.  Dr.  David- 
son was  formally  installed  as  president  of  Illinois  Wesleyan  on  Dec.  13, 
1922.  President  Harker,  of  Illinois  Woman's  College,  made  an  address, 
as  did  President  David  Felmley,  of  Normal  University.  E.  M.  Evans, 
chairman  of  the  Wesleyan  Board,  presented  Dr.  Davidson,  who  responded 
in  an  address.  The  exercises  were  held  in  the  new  memorial  gymnasium 
of  the  Wesleyan. 

The  Wesleyan  under  Dr.  Davidson  has  had  a  wonderful  growth,  and 
the  enrollment  of  students  and  personnel  of  the  faculty  is  more  notable 
than  at  any  other  previous  period. 

According  to  the  latest  statistics  during  the  current  year  is  a  new 
total  enrollment  of  1,162  students.  These  students  are  divided  among  the 
three  colleges  as  follows: 

College  of  Liberal  Arts:  Seniors,  65;  juniors,  74;  sophomores,  140; 
freshmen,  249 ;  unclassified,  46 ;  total,  574. 


188  History  of  McLean  County 

College  of  Law:     Third  year,  36;  second  year,  34;  first  year,  63; 
total,  133. 

College  of  Music:     Music,  expression  and  art,  535. 

Grand  totals  of  all  colleges,  1,242 ;  duplication,  80 ;  net  total,  1,162. 


CHAPTER  XIII. 


ILLINOIS    STATE    NORMAL    UNIVERSITY. 


THE  PIONEER  NORMAL  SCHOOL — QUESTION  OF  LOCATION — LAW  CREATING  NOR- 
MAL SCHOOL— SITE  CHOSEN— CASH  PLEDGES — CONSTRUCTION  OP  FIRST 
BUILDING — DIFFICULTIES — DEDICATION — EXPANSION — PRESIDENTS — BUILD- 
ING AND  DEPARTMENTS — ATTENDANCE — SOCIETIES. 

McLean  County  is  the  seat  of  the  pioneer  normal  school  of  Illinois 
and  of  the  middle  west.  The  idea  of  a  state  normal  school  began  to  take 
root  in  Illinois  about  1856,  especially  among  the  teachers  of  the  state,  who 
had  by  that  time  begun  to  hold  conventions.  The  formation  of  the  State 
Teachers'  Association  marked  an  era.  A  free  school  law  had  been  passed, 
but  it  met  with  opposition.  At  the  call  of  three  men,  H.  L.  Lee  of  Chicago, 
J.  A.  Hawley  of  Dixon,  and  Daniel  Wilkins  of  Bloomington,  a  meeting  of 
the  friends  of  free  schools  was  called  to  be  held  in  Bloomington,  Dec.  26 
to  29,  1853.  At  this  convention  the  proposals  most  discussed  were  to 
make  the  schools  a  separate  department  of  state  administration ;  to  estab- 
lish a  normal  training  school  for  teachers,  and  to  publish  a  journal  in  the 
cause  of  free  schools  in  Illinois.  Rev.  W.  Goodfellow  of  the  Wesleyan 
Universty  faculty  was  the  first  president  of  the  Illinois  Teachers'  Asso- 
ciation, and  Daniel  Wilkins  of  Bloomington  the  first  secretary. 

At  the  second  annual  meeting  of  the  Teachers'  Association  in  Peoria, 
and  at  the  third  meeting,  in  Springfield,  the  establishment  of  a  normal 
school  was  the  principal  topic.  J.  B.  Turner  of  Jacksonville  headed  a 
powerful  faction  advocating  an  Industrial  University  with  a  normal  school 
attached.  The  discussion  was  bitter,  and  at  the  Chicago  meeting  in  1856, 
Professor  Turner  withdrew  his  contention  in  order  to  center  interest  on 
founding  a  normal  school,  with  or  without  an  agricultural  school  con- 

189 


190  History  of  McLean  County 

nected  with  it.  The  Association  of  that  year  passed  a  resolution  request- 
ing the  legislature  of  the  coming  winter  to  appropriate  money  to  estab- 
lish a  normal  school  to  meet  the  educational  needs  of  the  state.  On 
Feb.  18,  of  the  following  year,  1857,  the  legislature  passed  and  the  gov- 
ernor signed  "An  Act  for  the  Establishment  and  Maintenance  of  a  Nor- 
mal University."  The  date  of  the  signing  of  this  bill  has  been  celebrated 
at  each  recurring  anniversary  as  "Founders'  Day"  of  the  Normal  Uni- 
versity. 

The  location  of  the  school  was  the  next  big  question.  In  1857,  the 
town  of  Normal  had  no  existence.  The  Junction,  otherwise  known  as 
North  Bloomington,  had  been  platted  and  a  few  houses  built;  most  of  the 
township  was  occupied  by  farms.  The  Illinois  Central  and  Chicago  & 
Alton  roads  crossed  at  the  Junction.  Jesse  W.  Fell,  who  had  most  to  do 
with  founding  of  North  Bloomington,  had  built  his  home  there  in  1855, 
and  in  partnership  with  R.  R.  Landon,  L.  R.  Case,  C.  W.  Holder  and  L.  C. 
Blakesly,  had  laid  out  an  important  addition.  Hundreds  of  trees  had  been 
planted,  and  the  founders  had  dreams  of  establishing  some  kind  of  an 
educational  institution.  When  Illinois  decided  to  start  a  Normal  school, 
these  energetic  men  saw  their  chance.  All  the  deeds  for  property  in  the 
new  town  of  North  Bloomington,  provided  that  no  liquor  should  be  sold 
on  such  property,  and  this  provision  was  incorporated  in  the  town  charter 
when  Normal  was  incorporated  in  April,  1858.  This  gave  Normal  from 
the  start  a  desirable  class  of  citizens. 

The  law  creating  a  normal  school,  also  created  a  board  of  education 
to  carry  the  law  into  effect.  This  board  was  empowered  to  receive  bids 
for  its  location.  Keen  competition  arose  for  the  location  of  the  new  nor- 
mal school.  Jesse  Fell  and  his  co-workers  determined  to  make  a  splen- 
did offer  to  secure  the  school  for  "North  Bloomington."  They  secured 
private  pledges  of  money  totaling  $50,000.  They  secured  a  pledge  from 
the  county  commissioners  to  donate  another  $50,000  from  the  proceeds 
of  the  sale  of  swamp  lands  which  the  government  had  given  to  the 
county  for  educational  purposes.  This  made  a  total  of  $100,000.  But 
after  secret  emissaries  to  Peoria  had  reported  an  alarmingly  liberal  offer 
to  be  made  by  that  city,  the  local  boosters  increased  their  own  subscrip- 
tions by  $20,000,  and  secured  an  equal  increase  from  the  county  commis- 
sioners, -making  a  total  of  $141,725.  The  McLean  County  pledge  included 
160  acres  of  land  at  the  Junction  valued  at  $38,000.    Several  other  tracts 


History  of  McLean  County  191 

of  land  in  the  vicinity  were  also  offered,  but  the  Junction  site  was  the 
favorite. 

The  state  board  met  at  Peoria  on  May  7,  1857,  to  choose  a  site.  The 
Bloomington  offer  had  been  kept  secret.  Batavia's  offer  was  first  opened, 
it  including  the  Batavia  Institute  buildings,  $15,000  in  money,  making  a 
total  of  $45,000.  The  citizens  of  Washington,  in  Tazewell  County,  and 
the  trustees  of  Washington  Academy  offered  the  land  and  buildings  of  the 
Academy  and  $12,000  in  cash,  the  total  being  valued  at  $21,000.  Peoria 
offered  money  pledges  from  individuals,  the  city  and  county  amounting 
to  $50,032;  also  several  sites  of  land  of  various  dimensions  and  locations. 
The  estimates  on  the  land  offerings  made  Peoria's  best  offer  total  at 
$80,032. 

The  bid  of  McLean  County  was  so  far  ahead  of  Peoria's,  the  second 
best,  that  the  board  at  once  located  the  Normal  University  on  the  160 
acres  of  rolling  land  within  three-quarters  of  a  mile  of  the  junction  of 
the  Alton  and  the  Illinois  Central  Railroads.  The  Board  of  Education  re- 
quired that  within  sixty  days  the  subscription  of  $70,000  made  by  the 
McLean  County  Commissioners  should  be  legally  guaranteed.  Abraham 
Lincoln  was  employed  to  draw  up  a  form  of  guarantee,  and  this  was 
signed  by  eighty-five  of  the  best  citizens  of  Bloomington,  each  binding 
himself  in  a  sum  between  $500  and  $5,000.  The  list  of  these  guarantors 
.  were  published  in  the  little  book  written  by  John  W.  Cook  some  years 
ago  on  the  history  of  the  Normal  University.  The  new  county  board  of 
supervisors,  elected  in  1858,  promptly  confirmed  the  pledge  of  the  county 
commissioners,  and  the  land  was  finally  sold  and  the  proceeds  used  for  the 
purpose  named,  hence  the  guarantee  bond  was  never  enforced. 

The  list  of  cash  pledges  was  divided  into  three  groups,  but  all  of 
these  were  collectible  under  the  terms  of  the  location.  The  first  group 
was  made  with  the  condition  that  the  site  should  be  within  one  mile  of 
the  corporate  limits  of  Bloomington.  The  second  was  conditioned  on  the 
location  being  within  three-quarters  of  a  mile  from  the  Junction;  the 
third  that  it  should  be  within  three  miles  of  Bloomington.  Joseph  Payne 
and  Meshack  Pike  donated  the  land  on  which  the  institution  was  actually 
located,  consisting  of  60  acres  and  enough  more  on  the  west  to  make  their 
gift  valued  at  $22,000.  E.  W.  Bakewell  and  Judge  David  Davis  gave 
40  acres  on  the  west,  mostly  west  of  Main  Street,  which  was  to  form  the 
location  of  the  agricultural  department. 


192  History  of  McLean  County 

The  next  step  was  the  construction  of  the  building,  the  first  of  the 
present  group.  George  P.  Randall  of  Chicago  was  employed  as  architect, 
and  when  bids  were  called  for  there  were  fifteen  bidders,  ranging  from 
$80,000  to  $115,000.  The  contract  was  let  to  Mortimer  &  Loburg  and 
T.  H.  Soper  of  Chicago  for  $83,000,  the  work  to  be  completed  by  Septem- 
ber, 1858.  The  corner  stone  was  laid  Sept.  29,  1857,  with  impressive 
ceremonies. 

But  unexpected  difficulties  arose  in  connection  with  the  construction. 
The  general  money  panic  of  1857  was  a  hard  blow  to  the  people  who  had 
pledged  cash  donations.  Work  was  started  by  the  contractor  in  the  sum- 
mer of  1857,  but  when  the  first  installment  of  his  pay  was  due,  in  Decem- 
ber, there  was  no  money  to  pay.  Many  of  the  subscribers  were  unable  to 
meet  their  pledges,  and  others  refused  to  pay.  It  was  even  proposed  that 
the  location  of  the  school  be  changed  at  that  time,  since  McLean  County 
people  seemed  unable  to  make  good  their  pledge.  The  Normal  School  had 
been  opened  at  old  Major's  hall  in  Bloomington,  in  the  third  story  of  the 
building  at  the  corner  of  Front  and  East  Streets,  in  October,  1857,  with 
19  pupils  and  three  teachers;  Charles  E.  Hovey  as  principal,  Ira  Moore 
and  Mary  Brooks  as  the  other  instructors.  For  18  months  no  work  was 
done  on  the  new  building  in  North  Bloomington.  Finally  the  board  of 
education  appointed  Mr.  Hovey  to  save  the  situation  and  gave  him  power 
to  act.  He  first  tried  to  negotiate  sale  of  the  county  swamp  lands,  since  • 
the  county  had  promised  to  pay  only  out  of  the  "proceeds"  of  the  lands 
and  they  must  first  be  sold.  C.  M.  Cady,  a  young  man,  was  dispatched  to 
New  York  with  a  list  of  the  lands  and  told  to  sell  them.  But  no  sale 
could  be  made  without  at  least  bonds  for  deeds.  Therefore  Hovey  him- 
self bought  the  lands  on  his  own  responsibility  to  the  extent  of  7,000  or 
8,000  acres,  at  a  price  of  $25,000  to  $30,000.  The  New  York  deal  fell 
through  but  rumor  of  a  great  sale  of  swamp  lands  got  abroad,  and  state 
officials  and  others  began  to  invest  in  other  tracts.  In  this  way  some 
money  began  to  come  in,  enough  to  pay  off  the  debt  to  the  contractors 
and  get  work  again  started.  Solicitation  among  the  business  men  of 
Bloomington  for  materials  and  credit  for  materials  enabled  the  carpen- 
ters and  masons  to  proceed,  and  by  January,  1861,  the  building  was  well 
along  toward  completion,  but  with  a  debt  of  $65,000  against  it.  Hovey 
went  to  the  Legislature  then  in  session,  secured  an  appropriation  to  take 
up  the  debts,  and  during  the  spring  and  summer  of  1861  the  building  was 


ILLINOIS    STATE    NORMAL    UNIVERSITY,    NORMAL 


FELL   MEMORIAL   GATEWAY,    ILLINOIS    STATE    NORMAL    UNIVERSITY.    NORMAL. 


T;5/7"°"xsftv 


History  of  McLean  County  193 

fully  completed.  There  was  still  a  debt  of  $30,000  over  the  structure 
when  it  was  finished.    The  total  cost  was  something  over  $200,000. 

The  dedication  took  place  in  January,  1861,  when  Gov.  Richard  Yates 
and  Richard  Oglesby  made  the  principal  addresses.  The  first  year  of 
school  at  the  new  location  was  engrossed  with  interests  and  feelings  of 
the  Civil  War,  which  was  then  in  its  beginning.  Principal  Joseph  G. 
Howell  responded  to  Lincoln's  first  call  for  troops,  President  Charles  E. 
Hovey  and  most  of  his  men  teachers  and  students  went  into  the  army. 
Perkins  Bass,  member  of  the  Board  of  Education,  took  charge  of  the 
institution  1861-2.  In  the  latter  year  the  normal  school  secured  the  serv- 
ices of  Richard  Edwards  for  president,  who  came  from  St.  Louis,  and 
Thomas  Metcalf,  another  St.  Louis  teacher,  joined  the  faculty  the  same 
year.  Albert  Stetson,  a  Harvard  graduate,  and  Edwin  C.  Hewett,  who 
afterwards  became  president,  were  secured  about  the  same  time.  The 
attendance  grew  during  the  administration  of  President  Edwards,  and 
more  liberal  appropriations  from  the  Legislature  enabled  the  school  to 
carry  on  its  work  with  less  stringency.  In  1867  the  Legislature  specifi- 
cally declared  the  Normal  University  to  be  a  state  institution. 

Jesse  W.  Fell  started  the  improvement  of  the  campus  by  setting  out 
many  trees,  a  fund  of  $2,500  having  been  set  aside  for  this  purpose.  A 
definite  plan  was  adopted,  and  the  beauty  of  the  present  day  campus  is 
the  result  of  those  early  plans.  The  Museum  of  Natural  History  was 
founded  in  this  period,  and  it  has  become  one  of  the  most  useful  and  inter- 
esting in  the  state  or  the  middle  west.  By  the  year  1876  the  value  of 
this  natural  history  collection  was  declared  to  be  $100,000.  In  the  year 
1885  the  surplus  specimens  were  removed  to  the  state  house  at  Spring- 
field and  to  the  University  of  Illinois  at  Urbana. 

The  changes  and  expansion  of  the  school  made  it  the  best  equipped 
and  most  largely  attended  normal  school  in  the  United  States  by  the  year 
1865.  It  had  some  enemies  in  the  earlier  years,  charges  being  made  that 
its  patronage  was  mainly  local  and  that  its  graduates  were  not  teaching. 
Investigations  proved  these  statements  not  borne  out  by  the  facts.  A 
high  school  was  established  in  1862  under  Charles  F.  Childs.  A  grammar 
and  intermediate  department  were  formed  and  these  were  later  quartered 
in  the  Normal  Public  School  buildings.  John  W.  Cook  was  first  principal 
of  these  departments.  Joseph  Carter  succeeded  him,  and  the  grammar 
school  had  by  this  time  become  thoroughly  organized  and  well  graded. 
(11) 


194  History  of  McLean  County 

In  1874  Thomas  Metcalf  was  placed  in  charge  of  the  teachers'  training 
department,  and  had  general  oversight  of  the  student  teachers. 

President  Edwards  resigned  on  Jan.  1,  1876,  and  was  succeeded  by 
Edwin  C.  Hewett,  who  held  the  position  until  June,  1890.  The  adminis- 
tration of  President  Hewett  was  one  of  steady  growth  and  development. 
His  term  of  14  years  was  the  longest  in  the  history  of  the  school  up  to 
that  time.  The  revenues  of  the  normal  had  grown  to  836,200  per  year, 
and  considerable  improvement  in  the  physical  property  was  made.  In 
this  period  of  the  school  history  arose  the  celebrated  Bakewell  claim,  by 
which  Edwin  W.  Bakewell  sought  to  secure  restitution  to  himself  of  40 
acres  of  ground  which  he  had  donated  for  the  original  location  of  the 
school.  After  years  of  negotiation  and  legal  action,  the  Supreme  Court 
decided  against  his  claim.  Along  in  the  '80's  a  faculty  club  for  the  study 
of  pedagogical  problems  was  established,  and  it  continues  until  this  day. 

Numerous  changes  in  the  faculty  occurred  during  President  Hewett's 
term,  some  of  the  most  noted  teachers  of  the  school  having  come  to  the 
teaching  force  during  these  years. 

John  Williston  Cook,  who  had  graduated  in  the  class  of  1865,  was 
made  president  to  succeed  Dr.  Hewett,  assuming  his  duties  in  1890.  He 
had  been  connected  with  the  faculty  several  years  and  was  known  for  his 
versatility  and  energy.  He  soon  secured  the  building  for  a  training  school, 
located  just  north  of  the  main  structure.  In  1899  was  completed  the  fine 
building  of  Gothic  design  which  was  to'  be  used  for  library,  gymnasium 
and  other  uses.     It  cost  $61,000  and  is  a  striking  feature  of  the  campus. 

Under  the  energetic  management  of  President  Cook,  the  high  school 
department  grew  to  be  a  considerable  factor  in  the  institution,  and  so 
great  was  its  increase  in  membership  that  the  buildings  became  crowded. 
Governor  Altgeld's  attention  being  called  to  the  conditions,  he  advised  the 
board  to  abolish  the  high  school,  which  was  done  in  1895. 

The  personnel  of  the  faculty  had  increased  from  18  to  21  members 
during  President  Cook's  regime.  The  teaching  force  included  many  young 
and  energetic  members,  and  the  whole  policy  of  the  school  was  an  aggres- 
sive one.  The  income  of  the  school  had  grown  to  841,740.  When  the 
state  of  Illinois  established  a  new  normal  school  at  DeKalb,  President 
Cook  was  called  to  become  its  head,  and  began  his.  work  there  in  1899. 
He  took  some  of  the  teachers  in  Normal  with  him  to  his  new  school 
at  DeKalb. 


History  of  McLean  County  195 

Dr.  Arnold  Tompkins  was  elected  president  of  the  Normal  University 
to  succeed  Mr.  Cook.  Dr.  Tompkins  had  been  professor  of  education  at 
the  University  of  Illinois.  He  at  once  inaugurated  many  changes  in 
the  course  of  study,  length  of  recitation  hours  and  other  internal  regu- 
lations. His  regime  lasted  only  one  year,  when  he  was  called  to  the  head 
of  the  Chicago  Normal  school,   and   shortly  afterward   died. 

David  Felmley,  who  had  come  to  the  normal  school  under  Presi- 
dent Cook  as  teacher  of  mathematics,  was  chosen  to  be  the  new  head. 
He  was  a  graduate  of  the  University  of  Michigan,  and  had  taught  suc- 
cessfully at  Carrollton,  where  he  was  later  superintendent  of  schools. 
He  came  to  the  Normal  University  in  the  same  year  that  John  W.  Cook 
became  president.  President  Felmley's  twenty-three  years  of  service 
as  head  of  the  Normal  surpasses  the  record  of  any  other  president  in 
length  of  time,  and  probably  has  few  parallels  in  a  similar  position 
among  the  colleges  and  universities  of  the  country. 

President  Felmley  started  out  to  continue  the  development  of  the 
University  along  the  liberal  lines  propounded  by  Dr.  Tompkins.  The 
increased  appropriations  from  the  legislature  made  possible  establish- 
ment of  new  courses  and  the  expansion  of  the  old.  Regular  courses  in 
music  were  established  and  Prof.  Westhoff  placed  in  charge  of  them. 
The   kindergarten,   nominally   established   in    1898,   became  a   reality   in 

1902.  A  manual  training  and  mechanical  drawing  course  was  begun  in 

1903.  Physical  culture  courses  were  established. 

Particularly  the  work  of  the  school  in  agricultural  instruction  was 
enlarged.  Two  terms  of  elementary  science  for  first  year  students  began 
in  1900.  A  school  garden  of  two  and  one  half  acres  was  planted  an- 
nually. Bruno  Nehrling  planned  and  equipped  a  greenhouse,  and  this 
is  a  valuable  part  of  the  school's  equipment.  Particular  and  scientific 
attention  was  given  to  the  campus,  which  had  been  more  or  less  neglected 
since  the  original  planting  of  trees  by  Jesse  Fell.  Many  new  trees  were 
added  and  the  other  ones  trimmed  and  taken  care  of.  An  acquatic 
garden  was  made  from  the  "old  pond"  on  the  campus. 

In  the  early  years  of  the  normal  school,  various  and  irregular  at- 
tempts were  made  to  conduct  a  term  of  instruction  in  the  summer  time 
for  the  special  benefit  of  students  who  were  actual  teachers.  The  modern 
summer  school  as  it  is  known  today  is  the  direct  result  of  a  paper  read 
before  the  faculty  in   1897  by  Prof.   Felmley,   then   teacher  of  mathe- 


196  History  of  McLean  County 

matics,  in  which  he  proposed  two  summer  terms  of  six  weeks  each.  The 
board  of  education  took  action  in  1899  and  the  first  of  such  summer 
terms  was  held  in  1900.  In  1903  the  legislature  gave  an  additional  ap- 
propriation for  the  use  of  the  summer  school,  and  since  that  time  biennial 
appropriations  have  maintained  the  school. 

The  attendance  at  the  Normal  university  in  its  regular  term  time 
has  had  a  remarkable  growth  with  the  passing  of  the  years.  The  first 
year,  1857,  recorded  an  enrollment  of  53  men  and  74  women,  and  the 
totals  for  the  next  few  years  ran  along  this  way:  122,  161,  152,  205, 
304  and  282.  After  the  close  of  the  Civil  war  the  enrollment  mounted 
above  the  400  mark,  and  wavered  between  400  and  500  for  several  years, 
again  falling  below  the  400  mark  in  1879.  Then  it  mounted  steadily 
until  it  passed  the  600  mark  in  1889.  By  the  year  of  the  fortieth  anni- 
versary of  the  university,  1907,  the  attendance  had  risen  to  826.  The 
total  slumped  off  some  during  the  first  years  of  the  twentieth  century, 
falling  to  386  in  1904,  and  reaching  569  in  the  year  of  the  golden  jubilee, 
1907. 

The  land  of  the  Normal  university  includes  a  campus  of  56  acres 
and  a  farm  of  96  acres,  all  donated  to  the  board  of  education  in  1857. 
There  are  eight  buildings  on  the  campus,  as  follows : 

The  main  building  erected  in  1857-60,  100  by  158  feet,  three  stories 
and  basement,  with  floor  space  of  52,800  feet,  devoted  to  class  rooms  and 
offices.    It  is  the  oldest  normal  school  in  the  United  States. 

The  Thomas  Metcalf  Building,  erected  in  1913,  with  floor  space 
of  43,600  square  feet,  housing  the  training  school,  consisting  of  70  pupils 
in  the  kindergarten  and  360  in  the  elementary  school  and  280  in  the 
high  school. 

The  Manual  Arts  building,  erected  in  1907,  contains  shops,  studios 
and  laboratories  for  classes  in  manual  training,  home  economics,  the  fine 
arts,  physics  and  chemistry.  The  modern  university  auditorium  is  in 
this  building. 

The  gymnasium  building,  erected  in  1896,  with  18,800  square  feel; 
of  floor  space,  houses  the  gymnasium  with  its  offices,  locker  rooms  and 
baths,  and  the  departments  of  biology  and  commerce. 

The  library  building,  the  former  model  school  building,  was  erected 
for  training  school  in  1892.  Since  1914  it  has  been  used  for  the  library 
and  geography  department. 


History  of  McLean  County  197 

The  plant  house,  erected  in  1905,  has  2,200  square  feet  of  floor  space 
under  glass,  and  a  work  room.  It  is  used  to  propagate  plants  for  the 
campus,  school  garden  and  school  rooms,  and  as  a  botany  laboratory. 

The  heating  plant,  erected  in  1914,  70  by  80  feet,  contains  two 
Springfield  water  tube  boilers,  with  modern  stoker  equipment.  Space 
is  provided  for  electric  generators. 

Fell  Hall,  erected  in  1918,  is  a  dormitory  for  women,  providing  83 
rooms  for  83  young  women  and  accommodates  150  students  in  the  dining 
hall. 

On  the  university  farm  are  a  commodious  farm  house,  cow  barn 
with  silos,  horse  barn,  dairy  barn,  poultry  house,  hog  house,  and  build- 
ing for  farm  machinery. 

The  university  faculty  consists  of  80  teachers,  six  in  the  University 
high  school,  11  in  the  elementary  training  school,  nine  in  the  training 
school  at  the  Soldiers'  Orphans'  Home,  and  54  in  the  regular  instruc- 
tional staff  of  the  Teachers'  college.  There  are  also  25  other  employes 
in  various  capacities. 

The  Normal  University  includes  four  schools: 

The  normal  school,  to  prepare  teachers  for  rural,  village,  or  graded 
elementary  schools,  also  special  teachers  of  music,  etc. 

The  Teachers'  College  to  prepare  high  school  principals,  supervisors 
and  superintendents. 

The  elementary  training  school,  organized  as  a  model  school  for 
observation  and  practice  teaching  by  the  normal  school  students. 

The  University  high  school  to  provide  high  school  courses  of  five 
separate  curriculums,  in  which  agriculture,  manual  training,  home  eco- 
nomics, commercial  branches  or  the  languages  shall  predominate.  This 
school  takes  care  of  eighth  grade  pupils  from  any  county  who  secure 
Lindly  scholarships  in  a  normal  school. 

The  normal  school  has  graduated  3,156  students,  of  whom  139  grad- 
uated from  the  Teachers'  college.  The  average  length  of  time  these 
graduates  teach  after  they  leave  school  is  nine  years.  The  Normal  Uni- 
versity is  in  session  48  weeks  of  the  year,  with  fall,  winter  and  spring 
terms  of  twelve  weeks  each,  and  two  summer  terms  of  six  weeks  each. 

The  following  table  of  attendance  in  the  college  department  for  the 
past  twenty  years: 


198  History  of  McLean  County 

1903 862       1913___  2,391 

1904 1,230   1914 ^_2,255 

1905 1,314   1915 3,400 

1906_.  1,408   1916___.  4,080 

1907 1,581       1917 3,000 

1908 1,711       1918 2,654 

1909 2,008       1919  2,825 

1910 2,003       1920 3,003 

1911 2,160       1921 3,539 

1912 2,485       1922 3,749 

In  spite  of  the  World  war,  the  Normal  University  gained  56  per  cent 
in  attendance  since  1913.  The  attendance  in  the  fall  of  1923  was  200 
larger  than  in  1922,  and  430  larger  than  in  1921. 

The  cost  of  maintenance  and  operation  for  the  past  year  was  $252,306, 
an  average  of  $180.73  for  each  college  student  for  a  term  of  36  weeks. 

Two  principal  literary  societies  have  existed  in  the  Normal  Univer- 
sity from  the  beginning.  The  first  was  originally  called  the  Normal  De- 
bating society,  afterward  changed  to  the  Phildelphian  society.  The  other 
was  a  rival,  first  called  the  "D  and  E  society,"  the  letters  referring  to  the 
sections  composing  its  membership.  This  was  afterward  named  the 
Wrightonian  society,  in  honor  of  Simeon  Wright,  member  of  the  board. 
The  Edwards  Debating  society  and  the  Ciceronian  society  were  two  organ- 
izations for  male  students  formed  in  the  '70s.  The  Sapphonian  society 
was  a  girls'  debating  society  organized  in  1888.  In  1903  there  was  formed 
the  Girls'  Debating  society.  There  are  two  christian  associations  within 
the  student  body,  the  Y.  M.  and  the  Y.  W.  C.  A.  An  oratorical  association 
was  organized  in  1887,  and  the  school  is  a  member  of  the  Interstate  Ora- 
torical League.  The  students  have  intermittently  maintained  athletic  as- 
sociations for  many  years. 

Since  music  became  an  established  part  of  the  training,  there  have 
been  glee  clubs,  an  orchestra  and  university  band.  Among  the  other  or- 
ganizations in  the  university  are:  the  Dramatic  club,  Latin  and  French 
clubs,  Science  club,  the  Natural  History  club,  the  Country  Life  club,  Kin- 
dergarten club,  the  'Varsity  club,  the  Lowell  Mason  club,  Hopkins  Agricul- 
tural club,  and  the  Students'  Council. 

Normal  University  gave  its  best  to  the  cause  of  America  during  the 
World  war,  as  it  had  done  in  the  Civil  war.    A  boulder  in  front  of  Fell  Hall 


History  of  McLean  County  199 

is  a  memorial  to  the  14  university  men  who  lost  ther  lives  in  the  war. 
It  was  dedicated  in  May,  1920.  There  were  nearly  700  university  men  in 
the  military  or  naval  service  of  the  United  States  during  the  war,  of  whom 
460  were  in  the  army,  85  in  the  navy,  25  in  the  marine  corps,  75  in  avia- 
tion, 14  women  nurses,  one  Red  Cross  relief  worker,  and  32  others  in  va- 
rious lines  of  service. 


CHAPTER  XIV. 


CHURCHES. 


FIRST  MINISTER — OTHER  PIONEER  PREACHERS— FIRST  EDIFICES— METHODIST 
EPISCOPAL — CATHOLIC — UNITED  BRETHREN — PRESBYTERIAN— OTHER  DE- 
NOMINATIONS AND  PASTORS— BAPTISTS — CONGREGATIONALISTS— DISCIPLES 
OF  CHRIST — GERMAN  LUTHERAN — EVANGELICAL  FRIENDS — UNITARIAN- 
CHRISTIAN  SCIENCE — EPISCOPALIAN — .ILLINOIS  CHRISTIAN  MISSIONARY 
SOCIETY. 

This  history  has  dealt  in  the  main  with  material  things,  the  progress 
of  the  county  in  agriculture,  industry,  home  building,  city-making,  and  road 
constructon.  However,  unless  something  be  said,  even  if  inadequately 
and  all  too  briefly,  of  the  spiritual  struggles  of  the  people  and  their  prog- 
ress along  moral  and  religious  lines,  the  history  will  not  meet  the  full  re- 
quirements of  the  times.  For  McLean  County  people  as  a  whole  have 
been  always  and  are  still  a  religious  and  spiritual  people.  In  all  sections 
of  the  county,  in  every  city  and  village,  church  spires  point  the  worshiper 
to  a  higher  life,  and  weekly  meetings  summon  him  to  remember  his 
Creator. 

Rev.  Jesse  Walker,  the  first  Protestant  minister  in  Illinois,  made  his 
headquarters  at  Kaskaskia,  the  early  capital  of  Illinois,  even  before  the 
territory  became  a  state.  It  seems  that  while  his  scene  of  activities  was 
mainly  in  southern  Illinois,  he  learned  after  1822  that  there  was  a  family 
of  Methodists  at  Blooming  Grove,  and  as  this  was  his  own  denomination 
he  set  out  to  visit  the  families  in  this  region.  Therefore  he  has  credit  of 
having  held  the  first  religious  services  inside  of.  the  boundaries  of  McLean 
County.     Other  Methodist  ministers  took  up  the  work  of  Rev.  Walker, 

200 


History  of  McLean  County  201 

for  we  learn  that  Rev.  Peter  Cartwright,  a  famous  evangelist  of  that  day, 
made  frequent  visits  to  central  Illinois,  although  he  lived  in  Sangamon 
County.  He  was  the  first  presiding  elder  of  this  district,  if  we  can  speak 
of  it  as  such. 

The  Baptists  seem  to  have  been  the  second  denomination  on  the  scene 
here.  Rev.  E.  Rhodes,  a  Free  Will  Baptist  preacher,  made  his  home  at 
Blooming  Grove  in  1824,  and  preached  often.  In  fact  he  seems  to  have 
been  the  first  resident  minister  of  any  denomination. 

Rev.  William  See,  another  Methodist,  lived  at  Blooming  Grove  and 
preached  in  the  region  around.  When  the  postoffice  was  established  at 
Blooming  Grove  he  became  first  postmaster.  He  probably  found  time  to 
handle  all  the  mail  that  the  little  settlement  received,  and  also  attend  to 
his  religious  duties. 

The  ministers  of  the  early  period  were  mostly  itinerant  preachers  of 
the  gospel,  they  were  here  one  year  and  gone  the  next.  Therefore  even 
the  names  of  most  of  them  have  been  lost  to  history.  It  is  known,  however, 
that  the  earliest  ministers  included  some  from  the  Methodists,  some  of 
the  Free-will  Baptists,  some  Campbellites,  or  Christians,  and  some  United 
Brethren.  The  Presbyterians  and  Congregationalists  also  had  scattered 
adherents. 

Many  of  the  churches  of  the  early  days  were  established  right  out  in 
the  open  country,  and  they  were  attended  mostly  by  the  farmers  and  their 
families.  But  a  later  period  saw  the  rural  churches  decline  in  member- 
ship and  prestige  and  the  churches  located  mostly  in  towns  and  cities. 
Some  of  the  first  rural  churches  built  in  McLean  County  have  long  ago 
been  abandoned  and  left  to  the  whims  of  the  weather.  Often  a  church 
was  flanked  by  a  cemetery  and  where  the  church  was  abandoned  the  ceme~ 
tery  likewise  fell  into  neglect.    This  is  a  sad  state  of  affairs,  but  it  is  true. 

Rev.  James  Stringfield  was  the  first  resident  minister,  although  Rev. 
Walker  had  previously  visited  here.  Rev.  Stringfield  preached  at  the  home 
of  the  Hendrixes  in  1823.  The  following  year  a  "class"  was  organized  and 
Blooming  Grove  made  a  station  in  the  Peoria  circuit  or  mission.  The  first 
Methodist  sermon  was  preached  and  the  first  Methodist  class  organized  in 
Blooming  Grove  in  1824  and  was  the  beginning  of  what  is  now  the  First 
Methodist  church.  For  the  first  six  years  the  meetings  were  held  in  the 
homes  of  the  settlers.  The  first  edifice  was  built  in  1836,  at  a  cost  of  $900. 
It  was  32x44,  and  dedicated  in  August,  1836.     It  was  on  the  corner  of 


202  History  of  McLean  County 

Main  and  Olive  streets.  Here  the  people  worshiped  from  1836  to  1851.  In 
1851,  the  second  meeting  house  was  built  upon  the  corner  of  Washington 
and  East  streets.  It  was  44x70,  and  cost  $7,838,  and  was  dedicated,  free 
from  debt,  to  the  worship  of  God,  on  Aug.  10,  1851.  It  was  used  as  a 
church  from  that  time  to  1873,  when  the  present  edifice  was  built.  Rev. 
Zadoc  Hall  was  minister  when  it  was  determined  to  build  the  first  church. 
He  himself  took  the  contract,  secured  a  tract  of  timber,  took  men  and 
went  into  the  woods  and  hewed  the  logs,  hired  carpenters  to  erect  the 
building,  and  when  paid  the  stipulated  price  of  $1,000,  found  he  had  made 
a  profit  of  75  cents  as  contractor.  The  preachers  who  were  upon  the  cir- 
cuit when  the  congregation  worshiped  at  the  courthouse  were  W.  T.  Crissy, 
William  Royal,  John  E.  French  and  Zadoc  Hall.  The  ministers  in  the  first 
church  building  were  Zadoc  Hall,  S.  W.  D.  Chase,  Richard  Haney,  Millin 
Harker,  T.  W.  Chandler,  A.  L.  Risley,  William  M.  Grubbs,  Norman  Allyn, 
Samuel  Elliott,  C.  M.  Holliday  and  Thomas  Magee.  The  preachers  serving 
in  the  building  at  East  and  Washington  streets  were  R.  W.  Travis,  W.  J. 
Rutledge,  Joseph  Montgomery,  William  M.  Grubbs,  J.  R.  White,  J.  C.  Kim- 
ber,  L.  C.  Pitner,  Reuben  Andrus,  W.  N.  McElroy,  James  Keaton  and 
R.  M.  Barnes.  The  earlier  ministers  who  served  at  the  present  building 
were  Thomas  A.  Parker,  W.  N.  McElroy  and  H.  O.  Hoffman.  The  church 
has  had  a  long  line  of  distinguished  pastors,  and  its  membership  is  now 
about  1,200.    Rev.  F.  A.  McCarty  is  pastor. 

Grace  M.  E.  church  was  organized  in  1867  and  was  known  as  ''Uni- 
versity Charge."  When  the  new  building  was  completed  in  1872  Amie 
chapel  became  the  place  of  worship  until  1879,  when  Rev.  J.  A.  Kumler 
arranged  to  purchase  the  building  known  as  the  Third  Presbyterian  church 
on  Locust  street  near  East.  For  ten  years  this  little  building  was  used. 
During  the  first  pastorate  of  J.  F.  Stout  funds  were  raised  for  a  new 
church.  Under  Horace  Reed  in  the  fall  of  1887  the  work  was  taken  up  and 
the  church  finally  completed  and  dedicated  on  July  21,  1889.  Bishop  Bown 
Bowman  officiated.  The  new  church  at  Locust  and  East  cost,  including 
ground,  $40,000.  Since  then  the  building  was  extended  north  and  a  fine 
pipe  organ  installed.  The  charter  members  of  University  Charge  included 
such  names  as  David  Kern,  B.  F.  Funk,  E.  C.  Hyde,'  D.  C.  DeMotte, 
O.  T.  Reeves,  J.  L.  Beath,  Isaac  Kenyon,  Harry  Reeves,  Jesse  A.  Willson, 
John  Carroll,  John  Geltmacher,  Charles  Munsell.  The  list  of  pastors  and 
the  year  they  began  service  is  as  follows:  W.  H.  Webster,  1867;  George 


History  of  McLean  County  203 

Stevens,  1868;  J.  G.  Little,  1871;  W.  H.  Musgrove,  1874;  Ira  B.  Henry, 
1875;  W.  M.  McElfresh,  1876;  J.  A,  Kumler,  1877;  M.  D.  Hawes,  1879; 
F.  J.  F.  Stout,  1886;  Horace  Reed,  1887;  W.  A.  Smith,  1889;  James  Miller, 
1893;  H.  C.  Gibbs,  1896;  T.  J.  Wheat,  1897;  B.  F.  Shipp,  1899;  Theodore 
Kemp,  1905;  Merle  English,  1908;  Walter  Aitken,  1912;  Alba  C.  Piersel, 
1917;  A.  L.  Caseley,  1919,  E.  V.  Young,  1923. 

Park  Methodist  church  is  on  South  Allin  near  Miller  park,  and  is  a 
younger  congregation.  Rev.  N.  E.  Keenan  is  its  pastor.  The  German 
Methodists  formed  a  church  in  1854  and  maintained  an  organization  until 
recently.  The  Swedish  Methodists  and  the  African  Methodists  maintain 
organizations  with  a  goodly  number  of  members.  The  Bloomington  dis- 
trict of  the  Illinois  conference  is  in  charge  of  Rev.  Charles  M.  Duncan  at 
present,  and  the  list  of  churches  in  McLean  County  and  their  pastors  are 
as  follows:  First  church,  F.  A.  McCarty;  Grace,  E.  V.  Young;  Park,  W. 
E.  Keenan;  Arrowsmith,  F.  R.  Deland;  Bellflower,  S.  H.  Hoar;  Covell,  W. 
E.  Williams ;  Heyworth,  A.  S.  Weiss ;  Weedman,  S.  N.  Ingmore ;  Downs, 
A.  A.  White;  Leroy,  T.  B.  Lugg;  Saybrook,  U.  G.  Johnston;  Chenoa,  Stan- 
ley Ward;  Gridley,  Ivan  Obenchain;  Hudson,  S.  G.  Foster;  Lexington,  L. 
S.  Zinser;  Normal,  Guy  Z.  Moore;  Towanda,  W.  F.  Budman;  McLean, 
0.  L.  Clapper. 

The  Catholic  church  has  many  adherents  in  McLean  County.  Rev. 
Barnard  O'Hara  arrived  in  Bloomington  on  Nov.  5,  1853,  and  the  first 
services  were  held  at  the  house  of  William  O'Brien  soon  afterward.  Later 
the  old  courthouse  was  secured  and  33  communicants  attended  first  mass 
in  that  building.  The  old  M.  E.  church  building  at  Olive  and  Main  was 
bought  Nov.  11,  1853,  for  $1,600,  and  was  used  for  many  years.  Father 
O'Hara  bought  land  west  of  the  city  and  donated  13  acres  for  St.  Mary's 
cemetery.  The  priests  following  along  at  this  period  were  Fathers  Cahill, 
Hurley,  Fitzgibbons  and  Sherry.  In  1859  Father  Kennedy  came,  and  he 
soon  bought  the  block  bounded  by  Main,  Locust,  Center  and  Chestnut 
streets  for  a  church  site.  It  was  not  until  1866  that  the  cnurch  was 
started  under  Father  O'Gara,  and  it  was  almost  completed  when  a  cyclone 
destroyed  it.  Then  followed  Father  Douhig  one  year  and  then  Father 
McGovern.  The  latter  sold  the  old  church,  and  the  congregation  wor- 
shiped in  Phoenix  hall.  Father  McDermott  came  in  1875,  and  started  a 
movement  to  build  a  church,  which  he  accomplished  after  many  tribula- 
tions.    On  July  22,  1879,  Father  M.  Weldon  arrived,  who  was  destined  to 


204  History  of  McLean  County 

have  a  long  and  distinguished  record.  He  served  40  years,  and  retired 
after  having  been  given  the  title  of  Monsignor.  He  is  still  living  in  retire- 
ment at  the  rectory,  and  Father  C.  H.  Medcalf  is  in  charge  of  the  parish, 
with  two  assistants.  The  block  now  contains  the  church,  rectory,  St.  Jo- 
seph's academy  and  St.  Mary's  school.  The  block  just  west  is  also  owned 
by  the  church  and  contains  St.  Joseph's  hall,  a  girls'  dormitory. 

The  German  Catholics  of  Bloomington  held  their  first  meeting  to  form 
a  church  in  1852,  and  soon  afterward  Father  Reeves  of  Wapella  was  as- 
signed to  hold  services  here.  A  small  church  was  built  on  West  Taylor 
street  in  1869.  Some  of  the  priests  of  this  period  were  Fathers  Nettstraet- 
ter,  Heckman,  and  Schreiber.  St.  Joseph's  cemetery  was  acquired,  and  in 
1881  the  congregation  was  taken  over  by  the  Franciscan  Fathers  of  Cin- 
cinnati. In  1885  the  present  building  at  Jackson  and  Mason  was  erected 
at  a  cost  of  $28,000.  Just  a  few  years  ago  it  was  stuccoed.  The  parish 
now  has  a  fine  church,  a  large  school,  and  houses  for  the  priests  and  the 
sisters.    Rev.  Father  Adam  is  in  charge  of  the  parish. 

St.  Patrick's  parish  was  organized  from  the  west  end  of  Holy  Trinity 
parish  in  1892  and  Rev.  J.  J.  Burke  was  placed  in  charge.  A  large  church, 
school  and  convent  were  built,  the  church  having  the  only  chimes  of  bells 
in  the  county.    Rev.  M.  J.  O'Callaghan  is  now  in  charge. 

Several  places  in  the  county  outside  Bloomington  have  Catholic 
churches.  Downs  is  in  charge  of  the  priests  of  St.  Patricks'.  Merna  has 
a  large  church,  and  Chenoa  also.  Lexington  has  a  church,  but  no  settled 
pastor. 

The  United  Brethren  denomination  have  had  congregations  in  Bloom- 
ington for  about  15  years,  and  have  built  two  beautiful  but  not  large 
structures.  The  First  church  is  in  the  northwest  part  of  the  city,  and  the 
Second  in  the  southeast.  Rev.  H.  M.  Klinger  is  pastor  of  First,  and  L.  A. 
Whitesell  of  Second.  There  are  flourishing  U.  B.  churches  at  Lexington, 
under  J.  Guy  Jordan;  at  Saybrook  in  charge  of  J.  T.  McCreery;  and  at 
Anchor  under  G.  H.  Schisler. 

The  First  Presbyterian  church  of  Bloomington  was  one  of  the  real 
pioneer  churches  of  the  county,  being  organized  in  1833,  only  three  years 
after  the  county  was  organized  and  two  years  after  the  city  of  Bloom- 
ington was  created.  Amasa  C.  Washburn  organized  a.,  Sunday  school  in 
March,  1832,  a  union  school  though  managed  by  Presbyterians.  When  the 
Methodists  organized  a  school  in  1839,  they  drew  many  from  this  union 


History  of  McLean  County  205 

school,  and  from  that  time  it  became  Presbyterian.  A  Presbyterian  min- 
ister whose  name  is  lost  to  history  preached  in  Bloomington  three  times  in 
July,  1832,  and  in  December  of  that  year  Calvin  W.  Babbitt  came  here, 
and  his  work  resulted  in  the  official  organization  of  the  First  Presbyterian 
church  in  January,  1833.  Rev.  James  McGeoch  was  engaged  in  March, 
1833,  for  one  year  as  minister.  The  congregation  first  met  in  a  house  at 
Main  and  Olive,  then  in  a  school  house  erected  by  Rev.  Lemuel  Foster. 
About  1843  the  church  began  to  look  for  a  home  of  its  own.  John  T. 
Stuart,  a  friend  of  Abraham  Lincoln,  donated  a  low,  swampy  lot  at  corner 
of  Grove  and  East  street,  where  the  first  building  was  erected  in  1846. 
The  lot  to  the  east  of  the  Stuart  lot  was  donated  by  David  Davis,  James 
Robinson,  A.  Brokaw  and  Oliver  Ellsworth.  The  building  was  not  entirely 
finished  until  1848.  The  structure  cost  $4,000,  being  built  mostly  by  vol- 
unteer labor.  It  was  of  unique  shape,  somewhat  after  the  form  of  a  Greek 
temple.  This  building  was  used  until  1895,  when  the  present  stone  church 
was  erected.  The  last  service  in  the  old  building  was  on  May  12.  The 
first  pipe  organ  was  put  in  1868.  The  various  ministers  of  the  church 
from  the  first  were:  Calvin  W.  Babbitt,  1833;  James  McGeoch, 
1833;  Lemuel  Foster,  1833;  C.  L.  Watson,  1837;  B.  B.  Drake, 
1840;  David  I.  Perry,  1844;  Fielding  N.  Ewing,  1850;  Hugh  R.  Price, 
1858;  John  McLean,  1865;  Samuel  B.  Taggart,  1874;  Henry  B.  Thayer, 
1877;  Frank  S.  Brush,  1881;  Charles  M.  Moss,  1886;  Edward  K.  Strong, 
1887-96;  DeWitt  L.  Pelton,  1897-99;  N.  H.  G.  Fife,  1900-04;  R.  Calvin 
Dobson,  1905-10;  W.  A.  Bodell,  1910-15;  F.  E.  Vernon,  1915-23.  The  cor- 
nerstone of  the  present  building  was  laid  on  July  23,  1895,  and  the  struc- 
ture was  completed  during  the  following  autumn  and  winter,  and  occu- 
pied in  the  spring  of  1896. 

The  Second  Presbyterian  church  was  organized  on  June  24,  1855,  at 
a  meeting  held  in  Major's  hall.  There  were  34  original  members,  mostly 
those  who  had  left  the  First  Presbyterian  owing  to  differences  of  opinion 
on  the  subject  of  slavery.  Rev.  Alfred  Eddy  was  chosen  first  pastor,  and 
served  until  1863.  The  first  building  was  erected  in  1856  on  a  lot  near 
the  southeast  corner  of  East  and  Monroe  streets.  Later  a  tower  was  added 
and  the  building  remodeled  in  1877.  Rev.  John  W.  Bailey  succeeded  Dr. 
Eddy  as  pastor,  and  then  Rev.  A.  MacDougal  was  called  to  the  pastorate. 
Dr.  J.  W.  Dinsmore  became  supply  and  then  pastor  in  1870,  and  he  served 
with  great  distinction  until  1891,  a  period  of  21  years.     Dr.  W.  P.  Kane 


206  History  of  McLean  County 

became  the  pastor  in  1892,  and  he  served  until  1898,  when  he  was  chosen 
as  president  of  Wabash  college.  A  supply  filled  the  pulpit  until  1899, 
when  Rev.  Henry  K.  Denlinger  became  pastor.  During  the  pastorate  of 
Dr.  Kane,  the  "old"  church  was  abandoned,  the  last  service  being  held 
May  19,  1895.  The  building  was  torn  down,  and  in  August  of  that  year 
work  was  begun  on  the  present  structure,  the  cornerstone  being  laid  on 
Oct.  15.  The  church  cost  $60,000  and  was  dedicated  in  1896.  Dr.  Den- 
linger was  followed  as  pastor  by  Rev.  Frederick  W.  Hawley,  who  remained 
for  about  five  years  and  then  resigned  to  go  to  Oklahoma.  Dr.  Hawley 
was  succeeded  by  Dr.  Joseph  N.  Elliott,  who  came  here  from  Muscatine. 
Dr.  Elliott  resigned  in  April,  1917,  to  take  the  position  of  home  mission 
head  in  Illinois  and  Rev.  W.  B.  Hindman  came  here  from  Ohio.  He  re- 
mained for  about  five  years,  and  resigned  in  December,  1921,  to  go  to  Au- 
rora. After  a  few  months,  Rev.  Charles  Tupper  Baillie  of  Plattsburgh, 
N.  Y.,  was  selected  to  the  pastorate  and  is  still  in  the  position.  The  church 
has  a  membership  of  800,  being  the  largest  church  in  the  Bloomington 
presbytery. 

Outside  of  Bloomington,  the  Presbyterians  have  a  number  of  churches 
in  other  places  in  the  county,  some  of  which  have  been  in  existence  from 
very  early  times.  The  list  of  churches  of  this  denomination  and  their 
present  pastors  are  as  follows:  Chenoa,  Rev.  Mr.  Owen;  Cooksville,  va- 
cant; Danvers,  Lewis  C.  Voss;  Downs,  vacant;  Heyworth,  W.  R.  Gibbons; 
Leroy,  Thomas  G.  Melton;  Lexington,  Frank  A.  Campbell;  Two  Towanda, 
D.  K.  Campbell,  stated  supply;  Stanford,  Loyal  W.  Madden.  There  is  a 
flourishing  Presybterian  church  in  Normal,  of  which  Rev.  Henry  B.  Wood- 
ing is  the  pastor.  He  succeeded  Rev.  Henry  Abraham,  who  occupied  the 
pulpit  for  many  years.  Prior  to  Rev.  Abraham's  term,  the  minister  was 
for  a  number  of  years  Rev.  W.  D.  Smith.  A  long  line  of  earlier  ministers 
made  the  pulpit  famous.  The  Presbyterian  church  used  to  stand  on  Ash 
street  next  to  the  public  school  building.  When  the  school  board  bought 
the  lot,  the  church  was  moved  away  and  made  into  residences.  The  mem- 
bership at  about  this  time  effected  a  merger  with  the  Congregational 
church  of  Normal,  which  had  existed  many  years.  The  two  churches 
took  over  the  site  of  the  Congregational  building  and  there  erected  a  very 
handsome  modern  church,  which  is  occupied  today. 

The  Baptists  are  quite  strong  in  McLean  County,  and  are  among  the 
earliest  organized  churches.    The  first  church  in  Bloomington  was  formed 


History  of  McLean  County  207 

in  1837  with  20  members,  including  the  following  heads  of  families:  Da- 
vid Haggard,  Samuel  Lander,  W.  G.  Thompson,  Catherine  Enlow.  The 
first  pastor  was  Rev.  Isaac  D.  Newell.  Meetings  were  held  at  various 
houses.  In  1843  Rev.  Lyman  Whitney  organized  a  Sunday  school.  A 
church  was  built  in  1848  at  107  South  Madison  and  in  '56  the  building 
at  Jefferson  and  Madison  was  occupied,  which  was  burned  down  in  the 
fire  of  1900.  Under  Rev.  F.  M.  Ellis  in  1865-68,  a  church  in  Normal  was 
formed.  Under  Rev.  D.  Read,  1880-84,  the  Prairie  Street  Baptist  church 
was  organized,  but  later  disbanded.  The  present  First  church  was  built 
under  Dr.  J.  L.  Jackson,  1884-90.  Rev.  W.  B.  Riley,  now  a  famous  minister 
of  Minneapolis,  was  pastor  here  at  one  time.  Rev.  J.  L.  Jackson  became 
pastor  for  the  second  time  in  1912,  an  occurrence  unusual  in  any  church. 
He  served  till  Dec.  31,  1923,  when  he  handed  in  his  resignation  to  take 
effect  Feb.  1,  1924.  But  death  claimed  him  on  Jan.  18.  The  membership 
of  the  church  is  699.  The  missionaries  who  have  gone  from  this  church 
are  Rev.  Fred  P.  Haggard,  Miss  Gertrude  Miller,  Miss  Mildred  Jones. 
Rev.  Frank  Fagerburg,  pastor  of  the  First  Baptist  church  at  Springfield, 
Mass.,  and  Rev.  William  Steinkraus,  who  has  a  charge  in  Indiana,  are 
members  of  this  church.  The  Baptist  churches  in  McLean  County  outside 
Bloomington  are:  Chenoa,  Rev.  H.  Westerfield,  pastor;  Danvers,  no  pastor; 
Hudson,  Rev.  E.  D.  Bell;  Lexington,  no  pastor;  Normal,  Rev.  George 
Sneath;  Towanda,  Rev.  A.  W.  Fuller;  McLean,  no  pastor.  Chenoa  church 
was  organized  in  1866,  Danvers  in  1838,  Hudson  in  1856;  Lexington,  1860; 
Normal,  1866  ;  Towanda,  1856  ;  McLean,  1867. 

Congregationalists  have  maintained  churches  in  McLean  County  for 
many  years,  there  being  organizations  in  Bloomington,  Chenoa,  Gridley, 
Normal  and  McLean.  The  Bloomington  organization  has  a  fine  modern 
church  at  East  and  Mulberry  streets,  of  which  Rev.  Frank  L.  Breen  is 
pastor.  It  was  built  about  fifteen  years  ago.  The  Congregational  church 
in  Normal  merged  with  the  Presbyterians  a  few  years  ago,  and  the  new 
Presbyterian  church  erected  on  the  former  site  of  the  Congregational.  The 
Congregationalists  were  an  organization  here  as  early  as  1842,  and  have 
several  times  been  disbanded  and  reorganized  again. 

The  Disciples  of  Christ  have  a  strong  following  in  McLean  County. 
The  first  body  of  worshipers  was  formed  at  Blooming  Grove  in  August, 
1828,  with  five  families  as  members.  Rev.  Ebenezer  Rhodes,  who  had 
been  a  minister  of  the  Baptist  faith,  united  with  William  Brown  to  conse- 


208  History  of  McLean  County 

crate  this  organization,  and  Rev.  Rhodes  afterward  was  known  as  a  Chris- 
tian minister.  Grassy  Ridge  church,  south  of  Bloomington,  was  formed  in 
1853  with  13  members.  The  First  Christian  church  of  Bloomington  was 
organized  in  1837  at  the  home  of  W.  T.  Major  with  13  charter  members. 
In  1840  a  small  frame  church  was  built  on  East  street  between  Grove  and 
Front.  In  1856  the  lot  at  Jefferson  and  West  (now  Roosevelt  avenue)  was 
bought  as  a  site  for  a  church.  The  brick  building  was  first  occupied  in. 
1857.  Some  of  the  early  pastors  were  Leroy  Skelton,  T.  V.  Berry,  D.  R. 
VanBuskirk,  Henry  S.  Earl,  J.  H.  McCullough,  A.  I.  Hobbs,  H.  D.  Clark 
and  B.  J.  Radford,  and  J.  W.  Lampheer.  J.  H.  Gilliland  came  to  the  church 
in  1888  and  served  14  years,  the  membership  increasing  in  this  time  from 
400  to  1,500.  Rev.  Gilliland  organized  the  Second  church  in  1902  and 
erected  the  building  at  Mulberry  and  Evans  street,  of  which  he  then  be- 
came pastor.  After  serving  as  pastor  of  Second  church  until  1910,  Rev. 
Gilliland  then  organized  the  Centennial  church,  at  Grove  and  Willard  ave- 
nue, of  which  he  then  became  pastor.  Mr.  Gilliland  died  in  1912.  The 
Third  church  is  for  colored  people  and  has  a  building  on  South  Morris. 
Rev.  Edgar  DeWitt  Jones  was  for  many  years  pastor  of  the  First  church, 
being  perhaps  the  most  famous  of  the  pastors  in  later  years.  He  was 
noted  as  a  writer,  lecturer  and  platform  orator.  He  arose  to  the  highest 
honor  within  the  gift  of  the  organization  of  Disciples  of  Christ,  being 
made  national  president.  He  is  now  pastor  of  Central  Christian  church  at 
Detroit. 

The  Christian  Church  at  Anchor  was  organized  in  1891  by  Dr.  A. 
W.  Green.  Arrowsmith  has  had  a  Christian  Church  since  1879.  The 
church  at  Bellflower  was  formed  in  1891,  and  in  1913  the  modern 
church  was  built.  Buck  Creek  Church,  near  Lexington,  was  formed  in 
1850  and  a  house  erected  in  1869.  A  church  was  formed  at  Carlock  in 
1836,  known  as  White  Oak  Grove,  but  after  fifty-three  years  of  existence 
it  passed  out  and  the  membership  transferred  to  Carlock.  Colfax  has  had 
a  church  since  1867,  and  in  1907  the  present  building  was  erected.  John 
R.  Golden  formed  a  congregation  at  Cooksville  in  1902,  succeeding  the 
Blue  Mound  Church.  Ellsworth  Church  succeeded  the  Old  Town  Church 
in  1867,  and  Heyworth  Church  was  organized  in  1872.  In  1906  the  present 
modern  building  was  erected  in  Heyworth.  A  Christian  Church  has  been 
at  Holder  since  1877,  and  at  Hudson  since  1877.  Leroy  Church  was  formed 
in  1888  by  T.  T.  Holton,  and  a  fine  church  erected  in  1907.     Lexington 


Of  VH£ 


History  of  McLean  County  209 

Church  has  lived  since  1860  and  occupies  a  brick  building.  The  church  at 
McLean  has  existed  since  1903.  Normal  First  Church,  organized  in  1873, 
occupied  a  fine  new  church  at  Fell  Avenue  and  North  Street  in  1912.  This 
was  the  last  work  of  the  lamented  J.  H.  Gilliland.  There  is  a  colored  church 
at  Normal  formed  in  1884.  Saybrook  Church  dates  back  to  1868,  and 
Shirley  Church  to  1869.  The  congregation  at  Stanford  was  formed  in 
1870  and  has  a  church  and  parsonage.  Twin  Grove  Church  was  formed 
in  1841  and  still  has  a  building  after  two  previous  ones  had  been  burned 
down.  The  list  of  pastors  of  the  various  churches  in  McLean  County  at 
present  is  as  follows: 

Arrowsmith,  Gary  Crone;  Bellflower,  C.  S.  Linkletter;  Blooming 
Grove,  W.  D.  Deweese;  Bloomington  First,  E.  E.  Higdon;  Second,  D.  N. 
Wetzel;  Centennial,  E.  C.  Beach;  Third,  A.  L.  Frost;  Gregory  Church, 
near  Gridley,  no  pastor;  Carlock,  R.  B.  Doan;  Colfax,  Osceola  McNemar; 
Cooksville,  Neil  H.  Crawford;  Ellsworth,  no  pastor;  Gridley,  no  pastor; 
Heyworth,  Chester  Williamson;  Hudson,  no  pastor;  Leroy,  B.  H.  Sealock; 
Lexington,  William  A.  Askew;  McLean,  Thomas  G.  Bachelor;  Normal, 
First,  A.  0.  Hargis ;  Second,  no  pastor ;  Saybrook,  Thomas  W.  Bass ;  Shir- 
ley, Charles  Moss ;  Stanford,  O.  Ross  Keran ;  Twin  Grove,  no  pastor. 

The  German  Lutherans  of  Bloomington  has  for  many  years  main- 
tained a  large  church  and  a  parochial  school.  The  church  is  at  Madison 
and  Olive  Streets,  and  the  school  further  south  on  Olive  Street.  The  serv- 
ices were  conducted  in  the  German  language  until  the  time  of  the  World 
War,  when  the  English  was  used  during  that  period.  The  school  has  a 
large  enrollment.  Rev.  O.  L.  Hohenstein  was  for  many  years  pastor  of 
this  church,  succeeding  Rev.  C.  F.  W.  Sapper,  and  at  his  death  he  was  suc- 
ceeded by  his  son,  Rev.  Walter  E.  Hohenstein,  the  present  pastor.  The 
Swedish  Lutherans  for  many  years  had  a  church  on  West  Olive  Street  in 
Bloomington,  but  of  late  this  has  been  changed  to  the  name  of  the  Eng- 
lish Lutheran  Church. 

The  Evangelical  Friends  Church  at  Front  and  Lee,  has  been  in  exist- 
ence for  forty  years.  Rev.  H.  H.  Bierbaum  became  pastor  in  1919,  and 
since  then  many  improvements  have  been  made.  The  church  has  a  Sunday 
School,  Young  People's  League  and  two  Ladies'  Aid  Societies.  The  pas- 
tors of  the  church,  since  its  organization,  include  Alexander  Arronet, 
1884-5 ;  M.  Severing,  1885-90 ;  Sam  Suter,  1890-98 ;  F.  Harder,  1898-1900 ; 
Ed  Durand,  1900-10 ;  Ed  Klimpke,  1910-19 ;  H.  H.  Bierbaum,  1919-24. 

(12) 


210  History  of  McLean  County 

The  Unitarian  Church  of  Bloomington  is  the  only  one  of  that  faith 
in  the  county.  It  was  organized  in  1858  and  is  housed  in  a  good  building 
at  East  and  Jefferson  Streets.  Rev.  J.  H.  Mueller  and  Rev.  H.  H.  Burch 
are  among  the  more  recent  pastors  who  are  well  known.  Rev.  Rupert  Hol- 
loway  is  the  present  pastor.  Under  his  leadership  many  public  and  popu- 
lar educational  features  have  been  introduced 

The  work  in  Christian  Science  began  in  this  community  in  1886.  Word 
had  reached  some  of  the  people  of  Bloomington  that  healing  through  men- 
tal practice  known  as  Christian  Science  was  taking  place  elsewhere.  Copies 
of  the  Christian  Science  Text-Book,  "Science  and  Health,  with  Key  to  the 
Scriptures,"  by  Mary  Baker  Eddy,  were  procured.  It  was  read  and  studied 
by  a  small  group  of  interested  persons  who  met  at  different  homes  to  talk 
about  Christian  Science. 

The  meetings  were  first  held  in  private  homes,  then  "Bible's  Hall," 
then  Washingtonian  Hall,  in  rooms  at  the  corner  of  Center  and  Olive 
Streets,  and  in  Jacoby  Hall  on  North  Main  Street. 

These  pioneer  Christian  Scientists  were  called  to  minister  to  the  sick, 
not  only  in  the  immediate  locality,  but  in  towns  and  country  for  miles 
around.  By  day  or  night,  this  little  band  of  Truth  seekers  carried  the 
gospel  of  healing  wherever  requested. 

In  one  instance,  practitioners  were  called  by  the  members  of  the  fam- 
ily to  give  Christian  Science  treatment  to  a  young  man  critically  ill.  It 
was  reported  to  the  city  authorities  that  these  practitioners  had  thrust 
themselves  upon  this  family  without  invitation,  and  that  the  family  needed 
the  protection  of  the  law.  A  patrol  wagon  loaded  with  officers  were  dis- 
patched in  haste.  When  the  situation  was  fully  understood,  the  chief  of 
police  gave  the  word  to  the  officers  and  they  quietly  returned  to  their 
headquarters. 

On  Aug.  1,  1922,  this  church  was  incorporated,  as  First  Church  of 
Christ,  Scientist,  Bloomington,  111.  Later,  the  congregation  rented  the 
little  frame  church  which  stood  on  the  lot  now  occupied  by  the  present 
church  edifice,  corner  of  Monroe  and  Prairie  Streets.  This  property  was 
purchased  in  April,  1897,  and  within  a  month  $1,300  was  paid  on  the  pur- 
chase price  of  $3,300.    The  property  was  paid  for  in  full  on  Sept.  7,  1900. 

In  1903  this  church  had  accumulated  $5,000  toward  a  new  edifice 
which  was  needed  by  the  growing  congregation.  At  the  annual  meeting 
of  the  Mother  Church  in  Boston  in  June  of  that  year,  it  was  voted  to  build 


History  of  McLean  County  211 

an  extension  to  the  edifice  erected  in  1895,  at  a  cost  of  $2,000,000.00  and  the 
Bloomington  Church  contributed  its  entire  building  fund  toward  this 
amount. 

As  an  evidence  of  the  fact  that  the  contributions  to  the  Mother  Church 
Building  Fund  did  not  impoverish  the  branch  churches,  it  should  be  stated 
that  within  three  months  of  the  dedication  of  the  Mother  Church  Exten- 
sion, this  church  had  made  definite  plans  for  the  construction  of  a  new 
building  which  cost  when  finished  $55,000,  though  at  that  time  there  was 
less  than  $5,000  in  the  treasury.  On  Easter  day,  1908,  the  last  service 
was  held  in  the  old  church  building.  On  Easter  day,  1909,  services  were 
held  in  this  church,  and  formal  opening  services,  to  which  the  public  was 
invited,  occurred  May  30  and  and  31,  1909. 

No  Christian  Science  Church  can  be  dedicated  until  all  obligations  are 
fully  paid.  This  church  building  was  dedicated  free  from  all  debt,  July 
14,  1912. 

In  the  thirty-five  years  since  its  organized  activity  in  1888  this  church 
has  paid  out  $165,000,  which  includes  the  purchase  price  of  the  lot,  church 
edifice  and  organ,  contributions  to  the  Mother  Church  activities  and  War 
Relief  fund. 

In  the  early  history  of  Christian  Science  Churches,  personal  preaching 
was  the  custom,  and  Mrs.  Delia  H.  Rigby,  C.  S.  B.  of  Bloomington,  111.,  was 
the  pastor  until  the  order  of  service  was  changed  in  1895,  when  she  be- 
came the  First  Reader  with  Edwin  O.  Ropp  as  Second  Reader.  At  this 
time,  Mrs.  Eddy  ordained  the  Bible  and  Science  and  Health  with  key  to 
the  Scriptures,  the  text-book  of  Christian  Science,  to  be  the  impersonal 
preachers  for  all  Christian  Science  Churches.  The  result  has  been  the 
development  of  Bible  students  among  Christian  Scientists  in  most  remark- 
able numbers.  Mrs.  Rigby  and  Mr.  Ropp  as  Readers,  were  succeeded  by 
the  following:  1903-1906,  Mrs.  Barbara  Prince,  First  Reader,  and  John 
N.  Niehaus,  Second  Reader;  1906-1909,  Adelbert  S.  Eddy,  First  Reader, 
and  Mrs.  Myrtle  Rodenhauser  and  substitutes,  Second  Reader;  1909-1912, 
Douglas  C.  Ridgley,  First  Reader,  and  Miss  Flora  Schneider,  Second 
Reader;  1912-1915,  Charles  C.  Gilliland,  First  Reader,  and  Mrs.  Ethel 
Gooch,  Second  Reader;  1915-1918,  Frank  G.  Morgan,  First  Reader,  and 
Mrs.  Osyth  L.  Hawk,  Second  Reader;  1918-1921,  Andrew  J.  Moore,  First 
Reader,  and  Mrs.  Leota  St.  Clair,  Second  Reader;  1921-1924,  Hiram  J. 
Rodee,  First  Reader,  and  Mrs.  Blanche  Ott,  Second  Reader. 


212  History  of  McLean  County 

There  is  only  one  Episcopalian  Church  in  the  county,  its  building  being 
at  Jefferson  and  Prairie  Streets  in  Bloomington.  It  has  had  many  well- 
known  pastors  since  the  church  was  formed  in  1876.  Rev.  William  BaKer 
resigned  in  1922  to  go  to  Pontiac,  and  is  succeeded  by  Rev.  J.  G.  Seacord, 
the  present  pastor. 

There  are  three  Baptist  Churches  in  Bloomington  for  colored  people, 
they  being  Macedonia,  with  B.  H.  Hunter  for  pastor;  Union,  with  P.  W. 
Fields  as  pastor,  and  Mt.  Pisgah  with  G.  W.  Hanley  as  pastor. 

Miss  Martha  Howe  is  the  pastor  of  the  Nazarene  Church  in  Bloom- 
ington, which  has  been  in  existence  for  the  past  few  years. 

William  H.  Shelper  has  conducted  two  evangelical  missions  in  Bloom- 
ington, one  on  South  Main  and  the  other  on  West  Washington  Street. 
These  hold  nightly  meetings  throughout  the  year. 

The  Weston  Evangelical  Church  was  organized  in  1869  by  Rev.  J.  B. 
Rife  and  reorganized  in  1894  when  it  became  a  part  of  the  United  Evan- 
gelical Church.  The  Evangelical  Association  and  the  United  Evangelical 
Church  were  merged  Oct.  4,  1922.  The  Weston  Zion  Church  is  a  part 
of  this  association. 

The  Illinois  Christian  Missionary  Society. — The  Disciples  of  Christ 
have  700  churches  and  130,000  members  in  Illinois.  They  have  in  the 
neighborhood  of  600  preachers  in  the  State.  The  movement,  sometimes 
called  the  "Restoration  Movement,"  began  in  Western  Pennsylvania,  with 
the  preparation  of  a  document  by  Thomas  Campbell,  known  as  the  Declara- 
tion and  Address.  This  was  in  the  year  1809.  Alexander  Campbell,  the 
son  of  Thomas  Campbell,  soon  became  the  recognized  leader  of  the  cause. 
He  established  a  church  paper,  the  Christian  Baptist,  and  after  publishing 
it  for  seven  years,  discontinued  it  to  start  one  with  a  somewhat  different 
spirit,  called  the  Millennial  Harbinger.  He  founded  Bethany  College  in 
West  Virginia. 

As  emigration  came  westward  naturally  a  large  number  of  the  peo- 
ple, who  had  accepted  the  religious  views  of  Mr.  Campbell,  came  into  the 
middle-west  states,  especially  Indiana,  Illinois  and  Missouri.  The  first  two 
churches  in  Illinois  to  take  the  name  of  Christian  only  were  in  Wabash 
County,  the  first  one  actually  being  a  country  church,  still  alive  and  active, 
called  Barney's  Prairie. 

In  the  early  years  of  the  movement  the  churches  were  independent 
of  each  other  except  as  they  met  voluntarily  for  mutual  edification  and 


History  of  McLean  County  213 

inspiration.  The  Disciples  are  a  very  democratic  people  and  have  no  desire 
of  adopting  any  form  of  government  that  will  make  them  otherwise.  But 
through  the  years  they  have  found  that  there  is  such  a  thing  as  Co-opera- 
tive Democracy.  For  a  long  time  the  tendency  has  been  to  form  frater- 
nal organizations  and  missionary  societies  through  which  the  churches 
may  express  themselves. 

The  first  church  was  established  in  this  State  in  1819,  just  one  year 
after  Illinois  became  a  State.  The  churches  grew  rapidly.  In  1834,  at  the 
close  of  a  protracted  meeting  in  Jacksonville,  it  was  decided  to  foster  co- 
operation among  these  churches.  Various  meetings  were  held  for  this 
purpose  but  it  was  not  until  Sept.  20,  1850,  that  the  present  State  Society 
was  actually  organized. 

For  75  years  this  society  has  represented  the  Disciples  of  Christ  in 
missionary  activity  and  co-operative  fellowship  in  the  State.  More  than 
100  of  the  best  churches  in  Illinois  were  founded  by  the  society  and  more 
than  one-half  of  the  700  churches  owe  their  existence  to  its  interest  and 
fostering  care.  The  headquarters  of  the  society  have  been  for  years  in 
Bloomington  and  at  present  are  located  at  504  Peoples  Bank  Building  in 
that  city. 

Dr.  H.  H.  Peters  accepted  the  office  of  State  Secretary  Sept.  1,  1916. 
His  administration  has  been  marked  by  evangelistic  activity  and  church 
building.  The  membership  of  the  church  throughout  the  State  is  growing 
and  the  spiritual  life  is  deepening.  There  is  a  very  noticeable  advance  in 
the  matter  of  new  buildings,  or  the  enlargement  of  existing  plants. 

The  Illinois  Christian  Missionary  Society  has  in  its  employ  an  office 
and  field  force  of  eight  people.  The  work  is  supported  in  three  ways: 
1.  By  offerings  from  the  churches ;  2,  by  interest  on  a  permanent  fund  of 
$125,000 ;  3,  money  received  by  the  workers  for  services  rendered.  While 
this  is  a  State  Missionary  Society  it  co-operates  fully  with  all  of  the  na- 
tional and  international  agencies  of  the  Disciples,  including  educational, 
benevolent  and  missionary  organizations. 


CHAPTER  XV. 


AGRICULTURE. 


A  PRE-EMINENTLY  AGRICULTURAL  COUNTY— PIONEER  METHODS— CHEAP  LANDS 
— CORN,  A  CHIEF  PRODUCT — LIVE  STOCK — NEW  ERA  WITH  THE  COMING  OF 
RAILROADS — GEOLOGY  AND  TOPOGRAPHY— DRAINAGE — IMPROVED  IMPLE- 
MENTS—TRACTORS—  LAND  VALUES  —  LIVE  STOCK  AND  GRAIN  — OTHER 
PRODUCTS. 

From  the  very  beginnings  of  its  history,  McLean  County  has  been  a 
pre-eminently  agricultural  region.  Agriculture  is  the  basis  of  its  wealth, 
and  what  progress  the  county  has  made  in  an  industrial  way  is  related  in 
no  distant  manner  with  the  cultivation  and  improvement  of  the  land. 
Blessed  by  nature  with  a  soil  which  is  adapted  to  the  raising  of  large  crops 
of  various  kinds  of  cereals,  and  making  possible  the  raising  of  large  herds 
of  good  stock  by  scientific  methods  of  feeding  the  grain,  these  two  sources 
of  income  for  the  farming  population  form  the  foundation  on  which  is 
built  the  prosperity  of  the  rural  community  and  of  the  towns  and  cities 
to  which  they  contribute. 

Of  course,  the  earliest  settlers  of  the  county  had  to  live  entirely  by 
agriculture,  and  that  of  the  crudest  sort.  Having  built  his  log  cabin  on 
the  edge  of  a  protecting  grove,  the  early  settler  next  began  to  cultivate 
the  soil  around  his  home  in  the  fashion  which  the  facilities  at  his  com- 
mand would  permit.  Usually  he  had  only  a  wooden  plow,  and  with  this 
it  was  difficult  to  break  up  the  prairie  sod.  In  fact,  at  times  the  break- 
ing up  of  the  soil  in  large  patches  became  impossible,  and  the  settler  re- 
sorted to  chopping  a  hole,  dropping  a  few  grains  of  corn  into  it,  and  then 
covering  with  his  heel.  This  sort  of  cultivation  resulted  the  first  year  in 
producing  some  little  corn  stalks,  to  be  used  as  fodder  for  the  cattle  or 

214 


History  of  McLean  County  215 

horses  which  the  farmer  possessed;  the  second  year  in  a  limited  crop  of 
ear  corn,  and  perhaps  after  that  time  the  cultivation  of  the  soil  had  pro- 
gressed to  the  point  where  more  considerable  results  might  be  realized. 
The  first  plows  brought  to  this  county  were  little  more  than  wooden  shov- 
els, and  the  farmer  had  to  stop  his  horse  every  few  yards  and  clean  off  the 
earth  from  the  moulding  board  in  order  to  permit  of  progress  of  any  kind. 
This  being  true,  it  was  easy  to  see  that  no  farmer  could  attempt  the  culti- 
vation of  any  great  area  of  land. 

But  as  a  compensation  for  the  hard  methods  of  cultivation  which  hin- 
dered the  earlier  form  of  land  tillage,  was  the  great  open  space  of  prairie 
land  lying  in  thousands  of  acres  between  the  groves  and  streams  and  be- 
yond the  small  areas  of  cultivated  tracts.  Land  had  little  or  no  value,  and 
every  newcomer  could  take  all  that  he  wanted,  although  quarter  sections 
were  most  desired,  as  this  was  about  the  maximum  acreage  that  an  ordi- 
nary family  could  hope  to  cultivate  or  use.  The  open  prairies  were  used 
as  pasture  lands  for  what  stock  the  early  settlers  brought  with  them  or 
acquired  after  they  located  here.  The  stock  was  allowed  to  roam  at  large 
in  summer,  and  in  winter  it  was  fed  such  stuff  as  the  farmer  could  pro- 
duce in  the  form  of  fodder  or  ear  corn  until  such  time  as  he  could  drive 
his  stock  to  the  nearest  market,  which  was  in  Peoria,  or  perhaps  Galena, 
for  Chicago  did  not  figure  as  a  stock  market  in  the  early  years.  The  price 
per  acre  paid  by  the  first  settlers  was  $1.25  from  the  years  1832  until 
about  ten  years  later.  The  first  entries  were  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of 
the  groves,  for  no  one  thought  of  entering  land  in  the  open  prairies. 

It  was  more  than  twenty  years  after  the  county  was  first  settled  be- 
fore the  railroads  were  built  through  this  section.  The  early  settlers 
therefore  had  no  market  for  their  produce  and  were  forced  to  dispose  of 
it  at  home,  either  by  grinding  their  grain  for  family  use  or  feeding  to 
stock. 

From  the  very  first,  corn  became  the  chief  product  of  McLean  County 
farms.  First,  because  it  was  the  easiest  grain  crop  for  which  to  obtain 
seed;  then,  its  cultivation  was  a  simpler  process  than  that  of  oats  or 
wheat.  True,  some  of  the  early  settlers  had  little  patches  of  wheat  which 
they  harvested  by  crude  methods  and  hauled  to  market  to  have  it  ground 
for  family  use.  The  nearest  mills  were  located  along  some  stream,  either 
Kickapoo  creek  or  the  Mackinaw  river,  while  some  farmers  went  as  far 
as  Peoria,  or  Wabash,  Ind.,  to  have  their  milling  done. 


216  History  of  McLean  County 

The  coming  of  the  railroads,  in  the  years  1850  to  '60,  opened  up  a  new 
era  for  the  agriculture  of  McLean  County,  for  the  railroads  provided  what 
had  up  to  that  time  been  missing,  a  way  to  get  to  market.  When  the 
roads  were  built,  farmers  could  aspire  to  greater  production  of  grains  or 
cattle,  for  they  could  see  a  way  to  get  their  surplus  to  market  and  thus 
realize  a  cash  income  from  their  farms.  The  whole  thought  in  those  days 
was  to  get  the  most  from  the  land,  and  it  was  not  until  50  years  later  that 
the  idea  of  paying  back  to  the  land  some  of  the  elements  of  its  fertility 
which  the  crops  had  extracted  from  it  began  to  be  taught  to  the  farmers. 
The  importance  of  this  compensation  process  is  now  universally  known 
and  acknowledged  by  the  farmers  of  McLean  County  and  of  central  Illinois. 

As  the  population  of  the  county  increased,  as  the  extent  of  cultivated 
lands  grew  apace,  and  when  the  railroads  had  come  to  furnish  a  highway 
to  market,  the  values  of  farm  lands  began  to  increase  more  rapidly  than 
had  been  thought  possible  prior  to  the  introduction  of  these  factors. 

Before  we  go  farther,  it  may  be  well  to  briefly  mention  the  character 
of  the  soil  of  McLean  County,  which  explains  its  agricultural  production 
and  the  methods  of  its  farmers.  The  government  geological  survey  shows 
that  what  is  called  Marshall  silt  loam  composes  574,000  acres  of  the  Mc- 
Lean County  area,  or  77.5  per  cent  of  the  total  area.  Miami  black  clay 
loam  composes  70,000  acres,  or  nearly  10  per  cent;  Miami  silt  loam  is 
found  on  58,300  acres,  or  7.9  per  cent;  Kakaskia  loam  on  20,000  acres,  or 
2.7  per  cent,  and  McLean  silt  loam  on  17,984  acres,  or  2.4  per  cent. 

Corn,  oats  and  hay  are  the  only  crops  grown  upon  the  Marshall  silt 
loam,  which  comprises  so  large  a  proportion  of  the  surface  of  McLean 
County.  Of  these  corn  is  the  most  important,  and  this  fact  gives  rise  to 
the  saying  so  widely  known  that  McLean  County  is  the  hub  of  the  corn 
belt  of  the  United  States.  There  is  no  need  to  attempt  a  scientific  essay 
on  the  composition  of  these  varying  types  of  soil.  Sufficient  to  say  that 
the  Marshall  silt  loam  is  a  remarkably  uniform  soil,  considering  its  large 
area.  The  surface  ranges  from  gently  rolling  to  rolling,  the  crests  of  the 
most  pronounced  undulations  being  not  over  20  feet  above  the  intervening 
depressions.  The  main  body  of  the  soil  of  the  county  is  well  known  as 
the  "black  soil,"  a  term  which  formerly  was  supposed  to  mean  inexhausti- 
ble fertility.  But  it  has  been  proved  by  a  half  century  of  actual  farming 
that  the  black  soil  cannot  survive  forever  unless  the  elements  of  which  it 
is  robbed  by  cultivation  shall  at  intervals  be  replaced. 


History  of  McLean  County  217 

With  the  many  streams  of  varying  size  which  flow  through  McLean 
County,  the  surface  in  general  is  adapted  for  natural  drainage.  But  in 
spite  of  this  fact  it  is  true  that  in  the  early  days  large  areas  of  undrained 
lands,  known  as  swamp  lands,  existed.  For  the  quarter  of  a  century,  from 
about  1880,  the  chief  concern  of  the  farmers  of  the  county  was  to  get 
their  lands  drained,  and  tiling  grew  to  be  a  big  business  in  those  days. 
The  large  proportion  of  McLean  County  farm  lands  are  now  artificially 
drained  by  under-surface  tiling.  The  drainage  question  is  now  a  closed 
issue  except  in  some  remoter  sections  of  the  county  which  have  been  back- 
ward in  agricultural  development. 

We  have  spoken  of  the  crude  implements  with  which  the  early  farmer 
pursued  his  tasks.  In  the  era  succeeding  the  civil  war,  there  was  a  won- 
derful development  along  these  lines.  Wooden  plows  went  out  of  use,  and 
improved  makes  of  steel  plows  became  common.  Gang  plows,  or  those 
with  several  blades  instead  of  one,  came  into  fashion.  Then  the  riding 
plow,  on  which  the  farmer  could  sit  and  drive  his  team  as  they  went  across 
the  field.  Corn  planters  of  a  mechanical  kind  succeeded  the  old  hand 
planters.  Reaping  machines  came  into  use,  and  the  old  methods  of  thresh- 
ing grain  gave  way  to  steam  engines  and  immense  "separators"  which 
could  take  the  grain  from  the  straw  at  the  rate  of  thousands  of  bushels 
per  day.  Wagons,  too,  were  improved  in  size  and  make  and  capacity  for 
hauling.  With  all  these  changes  and  betterments  of  implements,  the  size 
of  the  farms  which  one  man  could  manage  and  cultivate  constantly  grew. 
And  it  also  gave  rise  to  the  custom  of  tenant  farming,  where  the  owner 
of  the  land  could  live  in  a  near-by  village  or  distant  city,  while  the  actual 
farming  was  done  by  a  man  and  his  family  who  lived  in  a  tenant  house 
and  performed  the  work  for  a  stipulated  proportion  of  the  crops,  or  paid 
the  owner  a  certain  rate  per  acre  in  cash. 

The  values  of  farm  lands  had  a  gradual  but  steady  increase  during  all 
the  years  from  the  close  of  the  civil  war  until  the  time  of  the  world  war. 
Of  course  there  were  slumps  in  1873  and  following  years,  and  again  in 
1893  and  the  few  years  succeeding,  because  the  general  business  condi- 
tions of  the  country  had  suffered  depression.  Grain  and  stock  raising 
continued  to  be  the  chief  agricultural  industries.  Grain  elevators  sprung 
up  at  nearly  every  town  in  the  county,  and  shipments  went  out  from  this 
county  to  all  the  markets,  Chicago,  St.  Louis,  Indianapolis,  New  Orleans, 
and  even  to  Kansas  City.     The  completion  of  the  east  and  west  railroads, 


218  History  of  McLean  County 

the  New  York  Central  and  the  Lake  Erie  lines,  through  this  county, 
opened  up  an  outlet  for  grain  to  the  east,  which  before  had  been  lacking. 
This  made  competition  serve  a  better  turn  for  the  farmers. 

We  can  pass  over  some  of  the  incidents  of  the  agricultural  progress 
of  the  county  for  the  period  from  1865  to  1900,  and  come  on  rapidly  to  the 
modern  era  of  power  farming.  This  period  is  of  only  about  ten  years' 
duration  up  to  the  present  time. 

Mechanical  power  succeeds  horse  power  in  many  operations  on  the 
farm  in  the  present  day.  It  began  with  the  introduction  of  the  stationary 
machinery,  such  as  the  threshing  machine,  and  the  horse-drawn  reaping 
machine.  But  then  came  the  era  of  the  automobile  as  a  means  of  trans- 
portation, which  was  followed  in  its  second  decade  by  the  general  intro- 
duction of  gasoline  engines  in  the  operations  of  'plowing,  cultivation  of 
grains,  handling  of  grain  in  the  barns,  power  churning,  and  the  operation 
of  machine  shops  on  a  small  scale  on  the  farm. 

What  were  called  farm  tractors  marked  the  next  step  in  this  era  of 
the  development  of  mechanical  power  in  farm  work  to  succeed  the 
use  of  horses.  The  manufacturers  of  motor  cars  for  transportation  de- 
veloped a  more  heavily  built  machine  with  greater  power  and  with  huge 
flanged  wheels  for  making  its  way  over  plowed  fields  or  rough  ground. 
This  was  the  tractor.  Behind  it  might  be  hitched  a  series  of  plows,  two, 
three,  four,  or  even  as  high  as  eight  blades  in  one  diagonal  drag.  The 
engine  was  propelled  by  gasoline  in  what  is  called  technically  an  internal 
explosion  engine. 

About  the  year  1915  was  held  in  Bloomington  a  national  tractor  dem- 
onstration, when  scores  of  different  types  of  farm  power  machines  were 
here  for  a  week  and  gave  an  exhibit  of  their  work  in  fields  east  and  south 
of  the  city.  Another  similar  demonstration  on  even  a  larger  scale  was 
given  the  following  year.  These  public  exhibitions  of  the  modern  methods 
of  farming  on  a  large  scale  attracted  perhaps  the  greatest  crowds  of  peo- 
ple ever  drawn  together  at  a  public  event  of  any  kind  in  McLean  County. 
It  was  estimated  that  as  high  as  100,000  people  attended  the  demonstra- 
tions during  the  week  of  the  second  year's  tractor  show.  The  affair  was 
engineered  by  the  Bloomington  Association  of  Commerce,  in  co-operation 
with  the  farmers  of  the  vicinity  and  of  the  county  in  general.  On  certain 
days  a  long  line  of  different  makes  of  tractors  plowed  parallel  strips  of  a 
field  which  had  been  in  oats  stubble.     The  farmers  were  therefore  able  to 


History  of  McLean  County  219 

compare  the  methods  of  the  different  makes  of  tractors.  The  net  results 
of  all  this  public  show  was  to  introduce  scores  of  tractors  on  the  farms  of 
the  county  within  the  next  year  or  two.  Many  farmers  learned  to  run 
the  machines  who  might  not  otherwise  have  had  their  attention  called  to 
them.  It  must  be  said  that  not  every  farmer  who  tried  running  a  tractor 
made  a  success  of  it,  some  failing  for  various  reasons.  But  on  the  whole, 
the  era  of  power  farming  in  this  county  can  be  dated  from  the  great 
tractor  demonstrations  of  1915-16. 

The  World  War  period  formed  a  distinct  era  for  the  farmers  of  this 
and  other  central  Illinois  counties.  Under  the  urge  of  government  agen- 
cies, the  amount  of  food  grains  produced  was  increased  by  a  large  per- 
centage. Prices,  too,  went  up  to  heights  that  were  undreamed  of  before, 
and  a  period  of  unusual  prosperity  seemed  at  hand  for  the  farmers  who 
carried  on  their  work  in  a  sensible  manner. 

Land  values  likewise  arose  to  heights  that  had  never  before  been 
reached,  and  farm  lands  in  McLean  County  sold  as  high  as  $400  per  acre 
and  more  in  some  instances.  Many  deals  were  made  on  that  basis,  and 
while  some  of  those  who  handled  high-priced  lands  lost  by  later  deflation, 
those  who  could  foresee  the  natural  recession  that  must  come  did  not 
stand  to  lose. 

For  two  or  three  years  after  the  world  war  saw  the  hardest  period 
that  farmers  of  McLean  County  have  experienced  in  this  generation. 
With  the  drop  in  prices  of  grains  and  stock,  many  of  the  farmers  were 
unable  to  market  their  crops  at  a  profit  at  all,  inasmuch  as  they  had  paid 
inflated  prices  for  labor  and  other  factors  which  had  entered  into  the 
production  of  their  crops.  Indeed,  very  serious  losses  stared  in  the  face 
scores  of  farmers  in  the  county.  Values  of  land  decreased  in  correspond- 
ence with  the  general  drop  of  farm  produce.  But  by  the  year  1922-23 
it  was  thought  that  the  low-water  mark  had  been  reached,  and  it  is  hoped 
and  expected  that  a  new  era  of  farm  prosperity  is  awaiting  the  land 
owners  and  tenants  of  this  county  who  judiciously  carry  on  their  work. 
It  cannot  be  expected  to  reach  the  high-water  mark  of  war  times,  but  the 
great  slump  of  1920-21  is  definitely  passed,  and  the  scale  is  turning  upward 
in  the  years  1923-24.  Prices  for  farm  lands  as  recorded  in  some  of  the 
March  first  deals  for  1924  ranged  from  $200  to  $300  per  acre  for  land  that 
is  well  situated  and  in  good  condition.  Of  course  some  tracts  that  are 
poorly  located  or  have  meager  improvements  sell  for  much  less  per  acre. 


220  History  of  McLean  County 

From  the  last  published  annual  report  of  Harrison  Fahrnkopf,  that 
of  the  year  1922-23,  some  interesting  facts  are  gleaned  about  the  agricul- 
tural resources  of  the  county,  as  well  as  to  the  activities  of  the  farm 
bureau,  as  follows: 

"In  the  value  of  all  farm  property  McLean  is  the  second  richest  county 
in  the  United  States.  Los  Angeles  County,  Cal.,  is  the  first,  with  a 
value  of  all  farm  property  in  1920  of  $396,915,164;  McLean  County  is  sec- 
ond, with  a  value  of  all  farm  property  of  $267,337,088. 

In  the  value  of  crops  harvested  McLean  County  ranks  as  the  seventh 
richest  county  in  the  United  States — this  is  according  to  the  figures  for 
1919.  Los  Angeles  County,  Cal.,  again  is  first,  with  a  value  of  crops 
harvested  in  1919,  $62,212,843 ;  McLean  County  is  seventh,  with  a  value 
of  crops  harvested  in  1919  of  $26,887,618. 

"The  counties  of  Los  Angeles  and  San  Joaquin  and  Tulare,  Cal. ;  the 
county  of  Aroostook,  Me.,  the  county  of  Lancaster,  Pa.,  and  the  county 
of  Whitman,  Wash.,  are  ahead  of  McLean  County  in  the  value  of  crops 
harvested  for  1919." 

The  following  agricultural  facts  concerning  McLean  County  are 
gleaned  from  the  federal  census  of  1920: 

Value  of  land  in  farms $230,357,416 

Value  of  livestock  on  farms 11,022,626 

Value  farm  buildings 19,294,099 

Value  implements  and  machinery 6,665,947 


Value  of  all  farm  property  in  McLean  County  _  $267,337,088 

McLean  County  has  4,309  farms: 

Owners  operate 1,707 

Managers  operate 109 

Tenants   operate   2,493 


4,309 


Approximately  58  per  cent  of  the  farms  of  McLean  County  are  oper- 
ated by  tenants ;  40  per  cent  by  owners,  and  2  per  cent  by  managers. 


History  of  McLean  County  221 

1920. 

Total  No.  Total  Value. 

Horses   34,542  $3,648,621 

Mules 2,935  376,552 

Beef  cattle 26,185  2,033,582 

Dairy  cattle 26,412  1,752,331 

Sheep 14,166  189,160 

Swine 133,576  2,532,091 

Chickens  and  other  poultry 467,080  474,898 

1919. 

Receipts  from  sale  of  dairy  products $781,910 

Receipts  from  sale  of  chickens  and  eggs 605,301 

Average  production  of  milk  per  dairy  cow 294  gallons 

Total  Acres.  Total  Bu. 

Corn 289,012  12,076,089 

Oats  167,011  5,738,363 

Wheat   56,741  1,092,772 

Barley   376  9,282 

Rye   2,043  28,208 

Total  Acres.  Tons. 

Timothy 12,758  15,345 

Clover   13,827  15,677 

Alfalfa 2,178  5,111 

Timothy  and  clover  mixed 10,732  13,208 

Rye    2,043 


CHAPTER  XVI. 


PUBLIC  UTILITIES. 


DEVELOPMENT  CO-EXTENSIVE  WITH  CITY  AND  COUNTY — CRUDE  METHODS  AT 
FIRST — ILLINOIS  POWER  AND  LIGHT  CORPORATION — DEVELOPMENT  OF 
STREET  RAILWAY  SYSTEM — FORMER  OPERATING  COMPANIES — FIRST 
ELECTRIC  LIGHTS— DEVELOPMENT  OF  INDUSTRY — GAS  COMPANIES — TELE- 
PHONE  SYSTEMS. 

Nothing  tells  the  story  of  the  growth  and  development  of  McLean 
County,  particularly  the  city  of  Bloomington,  the  county  seat,  like  the  his- 
tory of  its  public  utilities.  In  fact  the  economic  and  industrial  part  of  the 
county's  history  would  not  be  complete  without  recording  the  early  strug- 
gles and  vicissitudes  of  the  sturdy  and  far-sighted  pioneers  of  the  utilities, 
who  not  only  had  civic  pride  and  faith  in  their  community,  but  the  temer- 
ity to  launch  projects  considered  at  the  time  extremely  precarious  financial 
ventures  because  of  the  scarcity  of  money  and  the  crude  tools  and  equip- 
ment they  had  to  furnish  service  with. 

The  history  of  the  utility  properties  in  the  county,  furnishing  power 
and  light,  the  heating  service,  street  railway  lines,  and  the  Illinois  Traction 
System,  now  controlled  by  the  Illinois  Power  and  Light  Corporation,  is  an 
interesting  one. 

Figures  on  the  company's  books,  particularly  those  from  1912  to  1924, 
give  a  splendid  idea  of  how  the  growth  of  the  population,  the  increasing 
of  homes  and  enlargement  of  industries  in  McLean  County  have  made 
demands  and  are  still  making  them  upon  the  properties  of  the  public 
utilities. 

In  1912,  or  about  the  time  of  the  installation  of  the  modern  electric 
meter  to  measure  service  for  customers,  the  power  company  now  operated 

222 


History  of  McLean  County  223 

by  the  Illinois  Power  and  Light  Corporation,  had  2,138  meters  in  service. 
A  survey  at  the  beginning  of  the  year  1924  showed  there  were  12,326 
meters  in  service. 

And,  from  a  few  thousand  persons  carried  annually  on  the  early  horse- 
car  line  of  the  pioneer  days  of  the  community,  the  'company's  modern  and 
up-to-date  electric  power  lines  now  carry  millions  of  people  annually,  for 
in  1923,  4,655,974  passengers  were  carried  on  the  city  railway  lines  of 
Bloomington  and  Normal.  The  heating  service,  too,  furnished  by  the 
exhaust  steam  at  the  electric  power  plant  of  the  company,  inaugurated  in 
1900,  shows  the  growth  of  Bloomington.  At  the  opening  of  the  year  1924 
the  company  was  serving  291  customers  with  heat. 

The  figures  at  the  beginning  of  1924  also  showed  the  city  railway  lines 
had  18.2  miles  of  track;  28V2  miles  of  Illinois  Traction  System  roadway  in 
McLean  County,  and  10,061  feet  of  steam  heating  mains. 

To  furnish  the  electric  power  for  lighting  and  the  street  car  service, 
the  company  has  a  5,000  k.  w.  steam  generating  electric  power  plant. 

A  total  of  22  modern  electric  cars  were  in  service  on  the  city  railway 
lines  in  Bloomington  and  Normal  at  the  beginning  of  1924. 

And  at  the  time  this  was  written  it  required  the  services  of  200  em- 
ployes, headed  by  D.  W.  Snyder,  Jr.,  general  manager,  to  operate  the 
properties  of  the  Illinois  Power  and  Light  Corporation  in  McLean  County, 
with  an  annual  payroll  of  $300,000. 

Twenty-two  towns  and  villages  in  the  county  receive  their  electric 
light  and  power  generated  at  the  Bloomington  power  plant  of  the  cor- 
poration. 

One  electric  transmission  line,  50  miles  in  length,  is  in  service  out 
from  Bloomington,  and  supplies  power  to  Chenoa,  El  Paso,  Enright,  Grid- 
ley,  Hudson,  Kappa,  Kerrick,  Meadows  and  Lexington.  The  line  was  built 
in  1912  and  carries  33,000  volts.  Another  line,  11  miles  long,  carrying 
6,600  volts,  extends  from  Gridley  to  Flanagan.  The  company  sells  cur- 
rent to  the  LeRoy  Electric  Company,  which  has  a  line  23  miles  in  length, 
13,200  volts,  from  Bloomington  to  LeRoy,  running  through  and  furnishing 
light  and  power  to  the  villages  of  Cooksville,  Colfax,  Downs,  Ellsworth 
and  Gillum.  The  company  also  sells  current  to  the  Shirley  Electric  Com- 
pany, the  Secor  Electric  Company  and  the  Carlock  Electric  Company. 
The  Shirley  Electric  Company  has  a  line  12  miles  long,  carrying  6,600 
volts,  from  Bloomington  to  Shirley  and  Funk's  Grove.     The  line  of  the 


224  History  of  McLean  County 

Secor  Electric  Company  is  10  miles  in  length,  carries  6,600  volts,  and 
operates  from  El  Paso  to  Secor.  The  line  of  the  Carlock  Electric  Company 
is  12  miles  long,  carries  6,600  volts,  and  serves  the  towns  of  Carlock  and 
Congerville.  The  Illinois  Power  and  Light  Corporation  also  has  one  and 
one-half  mile  of  line  from  Bloomington  to  the  car  shops  of  the  Chicago  & 
Alton  Railway.  This  line  carries  33,000  volts  and  supplies  the  shops  with 
power.  The  company  has  a  fine  electric  substation  at  Morton,  with  6,600 
volt  transmission  line  to  Tremont  and  Groveland. 

It  is  in  the  story  of  the  street  railway  system,  the  second  public  utility 
promoted  in  the  county,  built  from  Bloomington  to  Normal,  that  the  halo 
of  historical  romance  is  around.  A  company  of  public-spirited  men  of  the 
time,  composed  of  the  late  Henry  C.  Fell,  Norval  Dixon,  Lyman  Ferre, 
William  C.  Hendryx  and  William  A.  Pennel,  was  formed  in  1867  and  started 
to  build  a  car  line  from  Bloomington  to  Normal.  Little  money  was  ex- 
pected to  be  made  from  the  enterprise,  the  improvement  being  built  largely 
as  a  matter  of  civic  development. 

Work  was  begun  on  the  line  which  extended  from  Grove  street  in 
Bloomington  to  Normal,  stopping  at  the  Illinois  Central  and  Chicago  & 
Alton  Railway  depots.  The  cost  of  the  construction  was  $60,000.  Before 
any  cars  were  operated,  the  late  Asa  H.  Moore,  then  superintendent  of  the 
Chicago  &  Alton  Railway,  purchased  the  property  from  the  original  build- 
ers in  1868.  The  service,  30  minutes  between  the  two  towns,  was  started 
The  cars  were  hauled  by  two  steam  dummy  engines.  The  panting,  puffing 
dummy  engines  with  their  scarfs  of  black  smoke  trailing  behind  in  the 
city  streets  and  the  noise  of  their  shrill  little  whistles,  became  very  annoy- 
ing to  the  populace  and  pressure  began  to  be  exerted  on  the  city  fathers 
to  abate  the  nuisance. 

As  a  result  of  the  objections  the  company  was  compelled  to  take  off 
the  dummy  engine  from  its  cars  entering  Bloomington  at  the  car  barn,  at 
Park  street  and  University  avenue.  Mules  were  hitched  on  and  the  little 
courtesying,  bobbing  cars,  carrying  their  10  or  a  dozen  passengers,  were 
hauled  by  the  animals  the  remainder  of  the  trip  to  the  downtown  district 
of  Bloomington.  After  one  year  of  operation  in  this  manner  the  engines 
were  discarded  entirely  and  mules  substituted  over  the  whole  line. 

In  addition  to  the  passenger  service  the  road  did  an  extensive  freight 
business,  hauling  cars  of  wheat  direct  from  the  tracks  of  the  Chicago  & 
Alton  Railway  at  Normal  to  the  Novelty  Mills,  then  located  where  the 


History  of  McLean  County  225 

Illini  Theater  now  stands — Market  and  East  streets.  To  reach  the  mills 
a  spur  was  built  from  the  main  line  on  Main  street.  The  freight  business 
of  the  line  lasted  until  1873.  When  the  Bloomington  and  Normal  railway- 
was  built  the  track  was  constructed  of  25-pound  rails,  costing  $30  per  ton. 
The  weight  of  the  rail  in  the  system  was  gradually  increased  from  time 
to  time  until  today  the  greater  part  of  Bloomington  street  railway  system 
is  equipped  with  90  and  100-pound  rails,  costing  $60  a  ton.  The  entire 
section  of  the  Bloomington  system  in  the  downtown  district  was  rebuilt 
in  1922  and  1923.  Heavy  rails,  solid  manganese  switches,  frogs  and  curves 
and  Dayton  resilient  steel  ties  were  used  in  the  new  work. 

During  the  regime  of  Asa  Moore  in  the  operation  of  the  Bloomington 
&  Normal  Railway  demands  for  expansion  began  to  be  felt  within  a  few 
years  after  the  first  rails  were  laid. 

In  1881  a  line  on  Chestnut  street  in  Bloomington  was  constructed 
from  the  main  line  to  the  Chicago  &  Alton  Railway  tracks.  In  1883  the 
Front  street  line  was  built  from  Main  street  over  Front  street  to  Robinson 
street,  south  on  Robinson  street  to  Grove  street,  then  east  to  its  terminus 
at  the  Illinois  Central  Railway  tracks. 

That  section  of  the  system  known  as  the  "Union  Depot  Line"  was 
constructed  in  1884  from  Main  street  to  the  Chicago  &  Alton  Railway  Com- 
pany's tracks.  Mr.  Moore  experienced  some  opposition  in  the  building  of 
this  section  of  the  system  because  of  a  franchise  held  by  Messrs.  McBeam 
and  Foster,  two  highly  influential  men  of  the  time  operating  a  bus  line 
over  the  street.  Mr.  Moore,  however,  acquired  their  rights  and  built  the 
car  line  and  the  bus  service  passed  into  history. 

In  1888  an  eastern  syndicate  headed  by  W.  H.  Patterson  and  John 
Graham  purchased  the  system  from  Mr.  Moore. 

Mr.  Patterson  made  his  residence  in  Bloomington  and  was  general 
manager  of  the  railway.  During  his  regime  numerous  extensions  were 
made.  The  Miller  Park  line  on  Allin  street  was  built  from  Washington 
street  to  Wood  street ;  the  line  on  Main  street  was  extended  from  the  Big 
Four  Railway  tracks  to  Lincoln  street;  the  Center  street  line  was  con- 
structed to  Seminary  avenue  and  Mason  street ;  the  Clinton  Belt  Line  was 
built  and  the  track  extending  south  on  Robinson  street  was  taken  up  and 
laid  north  on  Robinson  street  to  Washington  street  and  extended  east  on 
Washington  street  to  Towanda  avenue. 

In  1890  the  street  railway  system  was  electrified,  the  mules  were  un- 

(13) 


226  History  of  McLean  County 

hitched  from  the  cars  and  disappeared  forever.  With  so  much  develop- 
ment of  the  system  that  had  gone  on,  the  company's  property  became 
mortgaged  to  the  extent  of  $200,000.  Unable  to  lift  the  mortgage  the 
company  faced  serious  financial  difficulties.  A  local  syndicate  composed 
of  A.  E.  DeMange,  John  Eddy,  George  Mcintosh  and  Montgomery  Evansj 
organized  a  new  company,  lifted  the  mortgage  and  took  over  the  operation 
of  the  system.  The  new  company  began  further  extensions  and  improve- 
ments at  once. 

Immediately  upon  acquiring  the  property  a  passing  track  was  con- 
structed on  Main  street,  extending  from  Front  street  to  Jefferson  street. 
In  1899,  the  Front  street  line,  only  running  as  far  east  on  Washington 
street  to  Towanda  avenue,  was  extended  east  to  Vale  street  and  south  on 
Vale  street  to  Grove  street. 

In  1900  the  line  on  South  Main  street  was  extended  from  Lincoln 
street  to  Houghton's  Lake.  Considerable  opposition  was  encountered  in 
extending  the  line  south  beyond  the  city  limits  at  LaFayette  street,  from 
the  board  of  county  supervisors,  but  the  track  was  finally  laid  and  service 
installed. 

In  1902  a  franchise  was  secured  from  the  town  of  Normal  for  the 
building  of  the  Normal  loop  and  Fell  avenue  lines,  and  both  were  built. 
During  this  same  year  the  Chicago  &  Alton  Railway  subway  was  con- 
structed, doing  away  with  a  dangerous  grade  crossing  at  the  intersection 
of  Franklin  avenue  and  Beaufort  street.  During  the  year  a  line  was  built 
on  Gridley  street  from  Front  street  to  Oakland  avenue  and  then  on  east 
to  the  Illinois  Central  Railway  tracks.  This  was  known  as  the  Oakland 
avenue  line. 

The  following  year  the  Chestnut  street  and  Center  street  lines  were 
looped  together  by  extending  the  track  down  Mason  street  from  Seminary 
avenue  to  Walnut  street  and  west  on  Walnut  street  to  the  right  of  way  of 
the  Chicago  &  Alton  Railway  Company,  crossing  a  corner  of  the  steam 
road's  track  and  joining  the  Chestnut  street  line  at  its  terminus. 

The  same  year,  1903,  the  Front  street  line  was  looped  with  the  Oakland 
avenue  line,  the  Oakland  avenue  line  being  run  east  on  Oakland  avenue  to 
Vale  street  and  thence  north  to  the  terminus  of  the  Front  street  line  at 
Grove  street.  A  passing  track,  four  blocks  in  length,  was  installed  on 
Vale  street  to  facilitate  service. 


History  of  McLean  County  227 

The  next  change  in  the  destinies  of  the  Bloomington  &  Normal  Rail- 
way, which  had  begun  in  1867  as  the  Bloomington  Horse  Railway,  came 
on  Jan.  6,  1906,  when  Mr.  DeMange  and  his  associates  sold  the  system  to 
Hodenpyl,  Walbridge  &  Company  for  a  price  stated  to  be  about  $1,000,000, 
who  later  conveyed  the  properties  to  William  B.  McKinley,  at  that  time, 
and  has  since  been,  very  active  in  building  up  public  utilities  in  Illinois 
and  the  Central  States. 

Mr.  McKinley  having  previously  acquired  control  of  the  Consumers 
Light  &  Heat  Company,  of  which  a  word  will  be  said  later,  the  street 
railway  company  and  the  light  company  were  merged  into  one  company, 
becoming  the  Bloomington  and  Normal  Railway  &  Light  Company.  Many 
changes  were  made  in  the  properties  after  the  merger,  particularly  in 
improving  the  character  of  the  construction  and  equipment. 

The  Oakland  avenue-Front  street  loop  was  abandoned,  the  Front  street 
line  terminating  at  Vale  and  Taylor  streets.  The  track  on  Vale  street 
from  Taylor  street  to  Oakland  avenue  was  torn  out  and  the  line  extended 
east  on  Oakland  avenue  to  Mercer  avenue. 

Since  Mr.  McKinley  purchased  the  property  over  $675,000  has  been 
expended  on  the  street  railway  portion  of  the  property.  The  first  two 
double-truck  electric  street  cars  to  operate  in  Illinois  were  operated  on  the 
Bloomington  system  and  later  the  interurban  railway.  The  latest  im- 
provement to  date  is  the  Birney  street  car  or  "one  man"  car,  which  is 
rapidly  being  adopted  in  leading  cities  of  the  country  because  of  its  safety 
features.  A  big  percentage  of  street  railway  accidents  is  cut  down  where 
Birney  cars  are  in  operation.  The  car  is  operated  by  one  man,  who  acts 
as  both  motorman  and  conductor.  The  car  cannot  be  started  with  the 
door  open.     This  style  of  car  has  reduced  accidents  to  almost  nothing. 

All  of  the  public  utility  services  in  McLean  County  at  the  present 
writing,  with  the  exception  of  gas  and  water,  are  furnished  by  the  Illinois 
Power  and  Light  Corporation  which  acquired  the  properties  in  July,  1923. 

William  B.  McKinley  is  chairman  of  the  board  of  this  company; 
Clement  Studebaker,  Jr.,  president;  William  A.  Baehr,  vice  president  and 
general  manager ;  H.  E.  Chubbuck,  vice-president ;  H.  L.  Hanley,  vice-pres- 
ident and  general  attorney;  Scott  Brown,  vice-president  and  secretary; 
George  M.  Mattis,  vice  president  and  treasurer;  and  P.  C.  Dings,  chairman 
of  the  finance  committee. 


228  History  of  McLean  County 

The  first  electric  lights  that  the  residents  of  Bloomington  saw  were 
four  that  flickered  and  sputtered  high  in  the  sky,  suspended  from  the 
courthouse  dome  one  night  in  the  year  1880. 

The  lights  were  placed  on  the  courthouse  for  demonstration  purposes 
by  the  Leo  Daft  Electrical  Company,  who  had  built  a  small  plant  near 
the  street  railway  car  barns,  University  avenue  and  McLean  street.  The 
company  had  ambitions  to  use  the  power  for  commercial  lighting  purposes. 
It  was  the  belief  of  the  electrical  men  at  that  period  that  a  wide  area  of 
city  could  be  lighted  by  suspending  the  lights  high  in  the  air.  In  some 
cities  they  placed  them  on  tall  steel  towers. 

About  the  time  the  Leo  Daft  company  started,  other  electrical  men, 
backed  by  capitalists,  were  turning  their  eyes  toward  Bloomington  as  a 
field  for  activity.  A  plant,  later  known  as  the  Jenny  plant,  was  built  on 
the  present  site  of  the  power  house  of  the  Illinois  Power  and  Light  Cor- 
poration on  Roosevelt  street.  It  was  begun  in  1880  and  finished  in  1882. 
Then  some  capitalists  came  in  from  Ft.  Wayne,  Ind.,  and  built  what  was 
known  as  the  Ft.  Wayne  plant. 

About  the  same  period  A.  E.  DeMange  started  the  Bloomington  Elec- 
tric Company  and  took  over  the  Ft.  Wayne  plant. 

A  company  known  as  the  Union  Gas  &  Electric  Company,  also  began 
developing  gas  and  electric  service,  paying  more  attention  to  gas  than 
electricity.  It  is  still  in  existence,  furnishing  Bloomington  with  gas.  In 
1890  the  city  railway  was  electrified,  the  power  furnished  by  the  Leo 
Daft  Company. 

Then  the  historical  fire  swept  Bloomington  in  1900  and  soon  after 
there  was  a  movement  to  organize  a  new  power  and  light  company.  The 
result  was  that  the  Consumers  Power  &  Light  Company  came  into  exist- 
ence. A  new  plant  was  erected  and  finished  one  year  after  the  fire.  Be- 
sides furnishing  power  and  light,  the  company  announced  it  would  fur- 
nish heat  as  well. 

The  new  company  was  formed  by  a  coterie  of  Bloomington  business 
men.  Among  them  were  Wolf  Gresheim,  Robert  Johnson,  W.  S.  Harwood, 
George  S.  Hanna,  Albert  Wochner,  C.  W.  Robinson,  C.  M.  Harlan,  George 
Mcintosh. 

W.  S.  Harwood  was  president;  G.  S.  Hanna,  vice-president  and  treas- 
urer ;  C.  W.  Robinson,  secretary,  and  M.  G.  Linn,  now  managing  the  power 


History  of  McLean  County  229 

plant  of  the  Illinois  Power  and  Light  Corporation  at  Des  Moines,  Iowa, 
was  general  manager. 

Mr.  DeMange,  then  at  the  head  of  the  Bloomington  Electric  Com- 
pany, and  others  acquired  the  power  plant  and  properties  of  the  Bloom- 
ington and  Normal  Railway. 

Both  the  Consumers  Power  &  Light  Company  and  the  city  railway 
were  operated  separately  until  William  B.  McKinley  purchased,  in  1906, 
first  the  Consumers  Power  &  Light  Company,  then  the  Bloomington  & 
Normal  Railway  Company,  and  merged  the  two  under  the  control  of  what 
was  then  known  as  the  McKinley  system,  operating  many  public  utility 
properties  in  Central  Illinois. 

When  the  Illinois  Power  &  Light  Corporation  was  formed  in  1923, 
merging  the  McKinley  and  Studebaker  interests  of  Illinois  into  one  vast 
company,  the  Bloomington  properties  came  in  under  the  control  of  the 
new  concern  and  is  now  operating  them. 

Bloomington  is  so  situated  on  the  lines  of  the  Illinois  Traction  Sys- 
tem that  excellent  interurban  service  is  afforded  with  connections  to 
Peoria,  Springfield,  Decatur  and  St.  Louis. 

The  first  interurban  car  in  service  for  Bloomington  was  the  one  run 
over  the  new  McKinley  line  from  Bloomington  to  Decatur  on  June  30, 
1906.    The  line  to  Peoria  was  opened  on  June  6,  1907. 

Gas  Companies. — The  first  public  utility  in  the  county  was  gas  serv- 
ice furnished  by  the  Bloomington  Gas  Light  &  Coke  Company  at  Bloom- 
ington, which  began  operating  a  plant  in  1857  and  furnished  street  light- 
ing service  from  the  Illinois  Central  railway  tracks  to  the  Chicago  & 
Alton  railway  depot.  The  plant  was  located  at  Market  and  Oak  Streets. 
It  was  abandoned  in  1867  and  a  new  one  built  by  General  A.  Gridley. 

The  Union  Gas  &  Electric  Company  of  Bloomington  as  it  exists  to- 
day is  the  outgrowth  of  several  previous  attempts  to  construct  and  oper- 
ate successful  gas  plants  in  the  city.  The  first  of  these  was  the  Bloom- 
ington Gas  Light  &  Coke  Company,  established  in  1857,  and  owned  mostly 
by  Franklin  Price  through  an  incorporated  company.  The  plant  was  at 
the  northwest  corner  of  Oak  and  Market  Streets.  After  the  property  had 
passed  into  the  hands  of  General  Gridley,  he  constructed  new  works  just 
west  of  the  Alton  railroad  tracks  and  north  of  Washington  Street.  The 
gas  company  furnished  the  illumination  for  the  streets  of  the  city  for 


230  History  of  McLean  County 

several  years  prior  to  the  introduction  of  electric  street  lighting.  Bloom- 
ington  was  one  of  the  first  cities  in  the  state  to  light  its  streets  with  gas. 
In  1882  a  new  gas  company  was  given  a  franchise  to  use  the  streets  of  the 
city,  and  it  tore  up  many  of  the  streets  for  the  purpose  of  laying  its  pipes. 
It  was  thought  that  competing  companies  would  result  in  lower  rates  to 
consumers.  But  after  the  new  company  had  done  much  work,  a  consoli- 
dation was  effected  and  the  gas  business  was  again  in  the  hands  of  a 
single  company. 

In  the  year  1901,  the  gas  company  decided  to  branch  out  into  Normal, 
and  secured  a  franchise  from  the  town  council  to  lay  mains  and  otherwise 
use  the  streets  and  alleys  for  service.  The  franchise  was  secured  in  the 
name  of  James  A.  Wilcox,  Duncan  M.  Funk,  John  T.  Lillard,  J.  0.  Will- 
son  and  Willard  A.  Parritt,  who  were  the  officers  of  the  company  in  those 
days.  The  service  was  gradually  installed  and  now  covers  Normal  almost 
as  thoroughly  as  it  does  Bloomington.  Many  miles  of  mains  were  laid 
in  Normal. 

In  the  year  1908  a  New  York  syndicate  acquired  the  franchises  and 
capital  stock  of  all  the  gas  interests  of  Bloomington,  taking  over  both 
the  Bloomington  Gaslight  and  Coke  Company  and  the  Citizens'  Gaslight 
&  Heating  Company.  This  new  concern  at  once  began  a  new  policy  of 
modernizing  and  bettering  the  equipment  and!  consequently  the  service. 
This  policy  has  been  steadily  pursued  to  the  present  time. 

J.  A.  Perkins  was  for  several  years  the  local  manager  under  the 
ownership  of  the  New  York  capitalists.  He  was  succeeded  by  Ray  Stretch, 
who  remained  in  charge  a  few  years.  About  three  years  ago  Roy  E.  Chew 
became  the  local  manager  and  is  now  in  charge.  Under  his  supervision 
the  local  property  has  been  still  further  improved,  until  it  is  now  one  of 
the  best  of  its  size  in  the  United  States.  A  survey  taken  last  year  of  the 
condition  of  gas  properties  in  Illinois,  one  hundred  in  number,  placed  the 
Bloomington  plant  as  second  in  point  of  modern  equipment  and  efficient 
service. 

The  total  valuation  of  the  physical  properties  of  the  Union  Gas  & 
Electric  Company  is  now  about  $1,600,000.  There  are  86  miles  of  gas 
mains  in  Bloomington  and  Normal,  and  8,350  meters  are  in  place,  or  one 
to  about  every  four  persons  in  the  two  cities.  The  company  employs  75 
people  on  an  average,  and  at  certain  seasons  when  outdoor  work  is  in 


History  of  McLean  County  231 

progress,  the  lists  run  as  high  as  150  to  200  people.  The  annual  payroll 
of  the  company  is  about  8100,000. 

This  company  produces  annually  250,000,000  cubic  feet  of  gas  for 
illumination,  heating  and  the  many  other  uses  to  which  the  substance  is 
now  put.     The  company  pays  taxes  of  $20,000  yearly. 

One  of  the  most  interesting  features  of  this  public  utility  is  its  policy 
of  customer  ownership.  Several  years  ago  it  started  out  on  this  well- 
defined  plan  of  interesting  its  patrons  and  other  citizens  in  owning  stock 
in  the  company.  Up  to  date,  there  are  about  400  people  in  the  two  cities 
who  own  stock  of  greater  or  lesser  sums.  These  include  nearly  every 
employe  of  the  company.  The  total  investments  represented  by  these 
resident  stockholders  is  upward  of  $224,000.  Thus  while  the  nominal 
headquarters  are  in  a  distant  city,  the  capital  which  controls  its  manage- 
ment is  largely  in  the  hands  of  the  very  people  who  use  its  product.  The 
local  directors  and  officers  now  include:  C.  F.  J.  Agle,  vice-president; 
Lee  Rust,  director;  Dan  Fitzgerrell,  director;  William  Beasley,  assistant 
secretary  and  treasurer;  R.  E.  Chew,  director  and  general  manager. 

Telephone  Systems. — The  Central  Union,  or  otherwise  known  as  the 
Bell  Telephone  System,  was  the  pioneer  commercial  line  in  this  county, 
although  attempts  to  build  telephones  had  previously  been  made,  but  they 
proved  little  more  than  toys  so  far  as  utility  is  concerned.  Fred  Beckman, 
still  in  the  business  after  44  years,  came  to  Bloomington  in  1880  from  St. 
Louis,  where  he  had  just  learned  the  rudiments  of  the  then  rather  crude 
business,  as  a  lineman.  Mr.  Beckman  helped  to  construct  the  first  sys- 
tem of  Bell  telephones  here  for  the  few  years  following  1880.  When  the 
business  expanded  and  grew  to  large  proportions,  Mr.  Beckman  was  made 
superintendent  of  the  local  plant,  a  position  which  he  retained  until  its 
consolidation  with  the  Kinloch  system  in  1920.  He  is  still  in  charge  of 
the  long  distance  business  of  the  Bell  company  in  Bloomington  and  Mc- 
Lean County. 

The  Bell  Telephone  Company  owned  the  only  telephone  system  in 
Bloomington  until  about  1895,  when  James  B.  Taylor  and  H.  S.  Bower 
organized  an  independent  company  called  "Home  Telephone  Company" 
with  a  limited  number  of  telephones. 

After  three  or  four  years  John  T.  Lillard,  John  J.  Pitts,  C.  P.  Soper, 
Lyman  Graham  and  V.  E.  Howell  furnished  additional  capital,  acquired 


232  History  of  McLean  County 

the  system  and  owned  it  until  about  1902,  when  A.  B.  Cotton  and  Hart 
F  Farwell  purchased  the  system.  Mr.  Farwell  soon  after  sold  his  inter- 
est to  Mr.  Cotton.  A.  B.  Cotton,  about  1905,  sold  the  Home  Telephone 
Company  plant  or  system,  to  a  group  of  people  who  are  still  the  principal 
owners,  and  who  then  formed  a  new  corporation,  the  present  Kinloch- 
Bloomington  Telephone  Company.  From  1905  to  date  the  list  of  subscrib- 
ers has  grown  from  1,200  to  10,000. 

About  1912  the  McLean  County  Telephone  Company  which  had  been 
conducting  an  independent  toll  business,  sold  its  toll  lines  to  Kinloch- 
Bloomington  Telephone  Company. 

In  January,  1922,  the  Bell  Telephone  Company  sold  their  local  plant 
to  Kinloch-Bloomington  Telephone  Company,  the  Bell  Company  retaining 
its  toll  lines  and  long  distance  traffic.  All  Bell,  also  all  independent  toll 
lines  throughout  the  country,  are  connected  with  the  Kinloch-Blooming- 
ton exchange. 

John  T.  Lillard  has  been  president  of  the  Kinloch-Bloomington  Tele- 
phone Co.  since  its  organization;  Hart  F.  Farwell  has  been  vice-president 
and  general  manager  during  all  said  time.  The  rates  charged  by  the 
Bloomington  telephone  company  are  the  lowest  rates  charged  by  any 
similar  plant  in  the  State  of  Illinois,  and  perhaps  as  low  as  any  similar 
plant  in  the  United  States. 

In  1902  when  Home  Telephone  Company  was  acquired  by  Mr.  Far- 
well  and  Mr.  Cotton  it  occupied  the  second  floor  in  the  building  at  216 
West  Jefferson  Street;  the  office  of  the  company  was  about  that  time 
moved  to  the  north  end  of  the  Evans  Building,  fronting  on  Main  Street, 
just  north  of  the  Corn  Belt  Bank  Building. 

In  1920  the  telephone  company  purchased  the  three-story  and  base- 
ment building  513-515  North  Main  Street,  together  with  the  lot  517  next 
north  of  same;  a  total  frontage  of  72  feet  and  depth  of  100  feet.  The 
entire  building,  513-515,  was  rebuilt  for  the  uses  of  the  company,  new 
switchboards  and  new  apparatus  were  placed  in  the  building  and  under- 
ground conduits  and  cables  were  constructed  to  and  in  the  newly  acquired 
property. 

In  January,  1922,  the  exchange  and  all  equipment  was  moved  from 
the  Evans  Building  where  it  had  been  located  for  15  years,  to  the  Lillard 
Building.  The  company  now  has  9,500  subscribers  in  Bloomington  and 
Normal,  or  about  one  to  three  people.    This  is  an  unusually  high  percent- 


History  of  McLean  County  233 

age  of  service.  Connected  with  the  Bloomington  exchange  are  about 
9,000  instruments  operating  through  the  many  exchanges  located  in  dif- 
ferent towns  of  the  county.  The  company  employs  110  people  in  all  ca- 
pacities from  operators  at  the  exchange  to  linemen  and  other  workers 
on  the  outside. 

Thomas  C.  Ainsworth  has  been  superintendent  of  the  Kinloch  plant 
here  for  about  twelve  years.  He  is  known  as  one  of  the  best  telephone 
men  in  the  country. 


CHAPTER  XVII. 


INDUSTRIAL  DEVELOPMENT. 


MANUFACTURING — RAILROAD  SHOPS  —  TELEGRAPH  COMPANY  —  EWING  AND 
FLAGG — PLOW  FACTORY — BRICK  AND  TILE — COAL  MINE — PORK  PACKING — 
MEADOWS  MANUFACTURING  COMPANY — AMERICAN  FOUNDRY  AND  FURNACE 
COMPANY — PAUL  F.  BEICH  COMPANY — MaGIRL  FOUNDRY — BLOOMINGTON 
CANNING    COMPANY — WHOLESALE    GROCERS — NURSERIES. 

The  industrial  and  manufacturing  interests  of  Bloomington  are  cen- 
tered largely  in  the  repair  and  machine  shops  of  the  Chicago  &  Alton 
Railroad,  which  form  the  largest  single  industry  of  the  city.  These  shops 
were  established  in  Bloomington  soon  after  the  road  was  built  through 
the  city,  in  1853.  Col.  R.  P.  Morgan,  the  superintendent,  and  Jesse  W. 
Fell,  rode  horseback  from  Bloomington  to  Joliet  looking  for  the  most 
available  site,  and  finally  chose  Bloomington.  The  road  was  poor  and 
its  first  group  of  buildings  were  temporary  wooden  structures,  located 
"way  out  of  town."  In  1857  they  employed  180  men.  On  Oct.  31,  1867, 
the  shops  burned  down.  Should  they  be  rebuilt?  Some  of  the  directors 
favored  having  their  repair  work  done  in  Chicago,  but  a  committee  of 
Bloomington  citizens  headed  by  Judge  David  Davis  and  Jesse  Fell  urged 
on  President  Timothy  B.  Blackstone  the  claims  of  Bloomington  to  such 
good  effect  that  the  shops  were  again  built  in  Bloomington,  after  the 
citizens  had  voted  $55,000  in  bonds  to  aid  in  acquiring  land  for  enlarge- 
ment of  the  plant.  The  decision  in  favor  of  the  bonds  was  practically 
unanimous.  The  rebuilt  shops  were  much  better  than  the  old  ones  had 
been,  and  these  remained  almost  unchanged  until  the  next  great  enlarge- 
ment campaign  of  1910,  when  the  citizens  subscribed  $165,000  to  buy 

234 


History  of  McLean  County  235 

ground  for  additional  shops  and  tracks,  and  the  railroad  company  spent 
on  its  part  nearly  $1,000,000  for  erecting  modern  and  strictly  up-to-date 
plant. 

The  Western  Union  Telegraph  Company  first  established  its  lines  into 
Bloomington  about  the  time  the  Alton  Railroad  came.  This  was  another 
factor  in  transforming  the  village  into  a  city. 

The  rebuilding  of  the  Chicago  &  Alton  shops  into  the  modern  plant 
which  the  road  possesses  was  accomplished  by  the  action  of  the  citizens 
of  Bloomington  in  1910,  when  by  voluntary  subscriptions  in  a  campaign 
of  17  days'  duration  the  sum  of  $165,000  was  raised  by  the  citizens,  to 
be  used  in  the  purchase  of  additional  land  on  which  the  Alton  officials 
were  to  expand  and  rebuild  their  plant.  In  April,  1910,  the  then  vice- 
president  of  the  road,  George  H.  Ross,  submitted  to  the  Business  Men's 
Association  of  Bloomington  a  written  proposition  in  which  the  company 
promised  to  expend  approximately  $1,000,000  in  improvements  and  en- 
largements of  its  works  in  Bloomington,  providing  the  citizens  would 
donate  the  ground  which  the  enlarged  plant  would  occupy.  This  proposi- 
tion was  taken  under  advisement  by  the  board  of  directors  of  the  Business 
Men's  Association,  and  after  carefully  laying  out  plans  for  its  public 
campaign,  it  set  the  date  of  May  16  to  begin  the  actual  canvass.  On  the 
day  before  this  date,  the  newspaper  published  details  of  the  proposed 
plans,  giving  Vice-President  Ross'  proposition  verbatim  and  telling  the 
people  that  it  would  require  the  sum  of  $156,000  to  purchase  the  desired 
lands. 

Alonzo  Dolan  was  president  of  the  Business  Men's  Asociation  at  that 
time,  William  Schmidt  the  secretary,  and  the  offices  were  located  in  a 
single  room  on  Jefferson  Street,  the  west  part  of  the  Illinois  Hotel  Build- 
ing. Here  the  headquarters  of  the  campaign  was  located,  and  E.  B.  Cole 
was  engaged  as  a  special  accountant  to  keep  track  of  the  subscriptions 
as  received.  The  special  committee  appointed  for  the  Business  Men's 
Association  to  conduct  the  campaign  was  composed  of  Paul  F.  Beich,  Ben- 
jamin F.  Harber,  Oscar  Mandel,  Henry  Behr,  Howard  D.  Humphreys, 
Edward  Holland  and  Theodore  S.  Bunn. 

Solicitors,  both  men  and  women,  were  appointed  for  every  precinct  in 
the  city  and  a  house  to  house  canvass  was  conducted  from  May  16  to  the 
night  of  May  31,  it  being  stipulated  that  the  proposition  of  the  Alton 
company  must  be  accepted  before  June  1st.     It  was  considered  that  the 


236  History  of  McLean  County 

acceptance  of  this  proposal  and  the  completion  of  the  enlargements  would 
forever  set  at  rest  any  fear  that  the  Alton  shops  would  be  removed  to 
any  other  point  along  its  lines. 

The  campaign  was  carried  on  with  increasing  intensity  from  day  to 
day,  and  on  the  night  of  May  31,  the  officers  of  the  Business  Men's  Asso- 
ciation sent  a  telegram  to  Vice-President  Ross,  stating  that  his  proposi- 
tion was  accepted  and  the  money  had  been  raised.  The  proposals  em- 
bodied in  the  statement  of  the  Alton  company  were  as  follows: 

First — Erect  a  44-stall  roundhouse  equipped  with  the  new  Sturte- 
vant  system.  Second — Build  new  machine  shop  opposite  present  one,  ex- 
tending east  from  boiler  shop  with  20  stalls,  increasing  capacity  of  erect- 
ing shop  by  one-half.  Third — Enlarge  boiler  shops  by  additions  south 
and  west  which  will  double  the  capacity  of  that  department.  Fourth — 
Enlarge  wheel  and  axle  and  freight  repair  shops.  Fifth — Add  to  size  and 
capacity  of  other  shops.  Sixth — Enlarge  switching  yards,  shop  yards  and 
roundhouse  yards,  rearranging  entire  shop  plant  system  of  tracks.  Sev- 
enth— Enlarge  main  yards,  laying  third  main  from  Bloomington  yards 
through  Normal.  Eighth — Construct  new  union  station  to  cost  $75,000, 
to  be  used  in  upper  stories  for  general  offices  for  operating  department. 

It  was  estimated  that  the  cost  of  the  enlarged  shops  would  be  $750,000 ; 
of  the  necessary  subways  and  viaducts  at  Chestnut  and  Seminary  Avenue 
would  be  $75,000;  of  the  new  union  station  $75,000,  and  of  the  enlarged 
trackage  $50,000,  making  the  whole  improvement  cost  close  to  $1,000,000. 

It  was  a  scene  of  rare  excitement  at  the  Business  Men's  Association 
rooms  in  the  evening  of  May  31,  when  a  final  report  was  expected.  Presi- 
dent Alonzo  Dolan  reported  that  on  the  previous  day  the  pledges  had  to- 
taled $140,000,  and  about  $15,000  had  been  turned  in  during  the  day. 
Then  a  gift  of  $2,000  was  reported  from  Miss  Susan  Loehr,  aged  94  years. 
Increases  from  previous  subscribers  brought  the  total  to  $162,500,  and 
there  it  seemed  to  stand,  until  a  letter  from  George  P.  Davis  was  read 
pledging  another  $2,500  additional  to  his  previous  gift  of  $1,500.  The 
Davis  pledge  brought  the  total  subscriptions  to  the  $165,000  point,  and 
then  a  great  celebration  broke  loose.  Cheers  rang  for  several  minutes, 
and  then  a  round  of  speechmaking  and  felicitation  was  indulged  in. 

The  money  was  payable  in  three  years,  but  a  large  part  of  it  was 
paid  during  the  summer  of  1910.  The  Business  Men's  Association  at  once 
began  the  work  of  buying  up  the  many  parcels  and  lots  of  land  which 


History  of  McLean  County  237 

had  to  be  acquired.  Secretary  William  Schmidt  carried  on  this  work 
during  that  summer,  and  soon  had  many  of  the  houses  removed  from  the 
land,  the  titles  turned  over  to  the  Chicago  &  Alton  Company.  Construc- 
tion contracts  were  awarded  in  June  and  for  the  next  year  the  shops 
site  was  one  of  the  busiest  building  places  in  the  state.  The  Alton  car- 
ried out  its  part  of  the  contract,  the  new  three-story  union  station  and 
general  offices  being  erected  on  the  site  of  the  old.  The  new  roundhouse 
and  machine  shops  were  mammoth  affairs.  A  foot  subway  under  Chest- 
nut Street  was  erected,  and  a  steel  and  concrete  viaduct  over  Emerson 
Street,  instead  of  at  Seminary  Avenue  as  at  first  proposed.  A  great  new 
concrete  and  steel  viaduct  was  built  over  the  Alton  tracks  at  Front  Street, 
at  the  south  end  of  the  new  union  station.  Finally  several  years  after, 
and  not  part  of  the  original  plan,  a  subway  under  the  tracks  was  con- 
structed at  Division  Street. 

Aside  from  the  Chicago  &  Alton  shops,  one  of  the  most  important 
factory  operations  carried  on  in  Bloomington  in  the  eariy  days  was  that 
of  Ewing  and  Flagg,  located  between  Main  and  East  Streets,  where  the 
Big  Four  station  now  stands.  Before  railroads  came  to  this  section,  this 
concern,  owned  by  John  W.  Ewing  and  William  F.  Flagg,  employed  125 
to  150  men  in  manufacturing  a  reaping  machine  and  other  kinds  of  agri- 
cultural implements.  The  reaper  was  a  forerunner  of  the  famous  McCor- 
mick  reaper,  and  in  fact  it  was  proved  in  a  lawsuit  that  the  Bloomington 
machine  was  in  part  an  infringement  on  McCormick  patents.  Most  of 
the  raw  materials  for  this  factory,  as  well  as  its  finished  products,  were 
carried  by  team  to  and  from  the  Illinois  River. 

A  kindred  industry  was  the  plow  factory  of  Lewis  Bunn  and  Abram 
Brokaw,  which  occupied  the  lots  where  the  People's  Bank  now  stands. 
These  industries  made  their  way  in  spite  of  the  absence  of  railroads  to 
aid  them  in  marketing  their  output.  If  the  railroads  had  come  ten  years 
earlier,  the  city  might  have  become  a  factory  town. 

Brick  yards  were  among  the  earlier  industries  of  the  growing  city 
of  Bloomington.  The  first  one  was  where  the  German  Lutheran  Church 
now  stands.  Later  the  famous  Heafer  brick  and  tile  yards  were  estab- 
lished in  the  southeast  part  of  the  city  and  turned  out  hundreds  of  thou- 
sands of  brick  for  many  years.  In  addition  to  the  many  brick  buildings 
erected  from  1850  to  1870,  the  railroads  built  many  of  their  bridges  and 
culverts  with  brick  arches.     One  such,  supporting  a  span  of  the  Illinois 


238  History  of  McLean  County 

Central  road  north  of  Bloomington  over  Sugar  Creek,  caved  in  during  a 
flood  season  in  1858,  and  dammed  the  creek.  The  overflow  of  the  bottom 
lands  threatened  serious  consequences  for  a  time,  but  the  flood  finally 
broke  through  the  temporary  dam.  When  the  first  building  of  the  Nor- 
mal University  was  under  construction,  there  was  a  brick  yard  in  opera- 
tion just  east,  where  the  Normal  Public  School  now  stands. 

Bloomington  is  credited  with  having  laid  the  first  brick  pavement  in 
the  United  States,  this  being  done  by  Napoleon  B.  Heafer  in  1877,  on  the 
south  and  west  sides  of  the  public  square.  Of  late  years,  the  brick  put 
down  in  the  pavements  of  Bloomington  and  Normal  all  came  from  other 
places  where  a  better  quality  of  clay  for  pavement  brick  existed. 

Tile  making  as  allied  to  brick  making  flourished  as  an  industry  in 
this  city  for  many  years,  and  the  Heafer  tile  works  in  Bloomington  em- 
ployed many  men  and  shipped  hundreds  of  thousands  of  feet  of  drain 
tile.  Nearly  all  the  swampy  farm  lands  of  McLean  County  were  thus  tile 
drained  in  the  period  from  about  1880  to  1900. 

The  making  of  tile  had  a  large  influence  on  the  management  of  the 
farms  of  McLean  and  adjoining  counties.  There  was  much  wet  land  in 
the  prairie  sections  and  these  were  thoroughly  drained  in  the  era  when 
tiling  was  the  principal  business  of  the  farmer.  It  is  estimated  that  hun- 
dreds of  miles  of  tile  drains  are  still  in  use  on  the  farms  of  McLean 
County.  There  were  tile  factories  in  several  of  the  other  towns  of  McLean 
County  outside  of  Bloomington,  and  one  of  the  last  of  these  to  continue 
in  operation  was  the  Tillbury  plant  at  Towanda.  Fenstermaker  &  Co. 
long  operated  a  factory  of  this  kind  at  Ellsworth.  Pike  &  Castle  ran  a 
plant  at  Chenoa.  One  of  the  early  tile  factories  was  located  at  Funk's 
Grove  and  there  was  another  south  of  Heyworth  along  the  Illinois  Cen- 
tral. The  work  of  tiling  added  millions  of  dollars  to  the  values  of  McLean 
County  farm  lands. 

The  Bloomington  Pressed  Brick  Company  was  established  along  in 
the  '90's  in  a  plant  built  alongside  the  McLean  County  Coal  Mine.  It 
used  the  shale  from  the  coal  mine  to  manufacture  into  a  brand  of  pressed 
brick  which  was  used  both  for  building  purposes  and  street  pavement. 
The  plant  flourished  for  many  years,  but  gradually  other  kinds  of  brick 
made  in  other  cities  got  the  edge  of  them  and  the  use  of  the  Bloomington 
pressed  brick  fell  off.  The  plant  was  finally  disposed  of  and  the  company 
went  out  of  business. 


History  of  McLean  County 

11  239 

««  tntJZ^ZT^Z  IT  Tnditure  of  tho«  °f  «■ 

future  prosperity  of  the  city.     The  first  ™       countln«  for  much  in  the 
near  the  present  city  water  works   butt  T'  ^  Started  in  1867 

the  trouble  with  water     The  ZT"     M  *  fa,'Im'e  on  account  of 

was  organized  ^L^LT^^t^  ^  °^ 
sunk  near  the  Chicago  &  Alton  depot  and  hi,  T^'  A  Shaft  was 
operation  since  that  time.  For  many  2, ' >  ?  haS  bee"  in  ^nunl 
300  miners,  but  of  later  years  owL  t 1  "  emP'0yed  betwee"  2°<>  and 
ther  south  with  deeper  veins  of  ZT  s  °Pemng  °f  man*  min^  fur- 
ton  mine  had  m£Z^?^«S^**-*» 
large  part  of  the  supplies  of  coal  used        »  ^  '*  fu™>'shed  a 

in,  the  World  War  served  as  a  1   esavL  toT^0"  "^  ^  dur" 
was  hard  to  obtain  from  distant  nZ       ™  community  when  coal 

somewhere  near  100  men  employed  Z t„  W  (1923)   there  "ore 

served  as  manager  of  the  mme  for  many  mme'    LyMan  M'  Graham'  wh« 
agement  during  1922.  y  yearS>  gave  UP  the  active  man- 

For  many  years  there  was  in  operation  in  ri  • 
mg  plant,  located  on  South  East  Sw?  *  Bloomin«ton  a  pork  pack- 
road.  I„  the  days  of  its  prime  h^  1  IT  T*  °f  the  Big  F°"  Rail- 
hogs  every  day  of  the  weT  and  if.  \  T"  "nd  PaCked  hund-ds  of 
amounted  to  hundreds  of  thousand  o/do^a  "■  ^  T^  °f  the  year 
were  later  taken  over  by  Campbel  HoLn  &  Co'"  tl  ",  ^  ^^ 
who  now  occupy  them  with  several  enlarge^nte  *      6Sa'e  «WC"™' 

stove  ll«T  Zy  ZZ^TstTT^ has  had  one  «  -»- 

along  the  Alton  road  «S7^ZSTa^T'  ^^  buiMin*' 
a  big  manufacturing  business.  A  fire  Ld  nth  f  """  *~"  a"d  did 
to  finally  close  down.  On  the  east  side  1  !  '°SSeS  CaUSed  the  Plant 
long  located  the  Co-onerative%7     n  C'ty'  at  Empire  Str^  was 

Hayes  Stove  Company  ""^  faCt°ry'  "0W  the  Hamilton! 

-unty,  when  the  Kocke  brotht  ^^  f^  ^ 


240  History  of  McLean  County 

grain  elevators  at  the  town  of  Meadows,  east  of  Lexington.  This  grew 
until  it  was  too  large  for  the  community  of  its  birth,  and  it  was  removed 
to  Pontiac,  where  a  large  factory  building  was  erected  and  where  it  con- 
tinued to  expand  for  several  years.  Then  its  Pontiac  quarters  having 
been  outgrown,  a  proposal  to  locate  the  plant  in  Bloomington  was  taken 
up  by  the  Association  of  Commerce,  with  the  result  that  a  tract  of  land 
in  the  southeast  part  of  the  city  was  acquired  and  deeded  to  the  com- 
pany in  consideration  of  locating  the  plant  here.  The  company  was  re- 
organized* with  increased  capital  and  erected  on  the  land  buildings  cost- 
ing upward  of  $300,000.  In  1923,  owing  to  after-war  conditions,  the 
company  went  through  a  process  of  re-capitalization,  and  is  now  on  a 
substantial  basis  and  doing  a  very  large  business  in  manufacturing  wash- 
ing machines,  grain  elevators  and  other  articles  of  general  use.  The  com- 
pany employs  a  large  number  of  skilled  mechanics  and  other  workmen. 

A  district  east  of  the  Illinois  Central  Railroad  in  Bloomington  devel- 
oped into  an  important  territory  of  the  city  in  an  industrial  way.  The 
American  Foundry  and  Furnace  Company,  established  30  years  ago  as 
the  Soper  Foundry,  has  become  a  well-established  business  of  wide  client- 
age. It  was  founded  by  Horace  W.  and  Clinton  P.  Soper  and  was  carried 
on  by  the  second  generation  of  Clinton  Soper's  family.  Leroy  G.  Whit- 
mer  is  the  president  of  the  company,  Horace  A.  Soper  is  the  vice-presi- 
dent, and  Guy  Haley  is  secretary.  The  plant  occupies  a  half  block  of 
buildings,  and  employs  100  men  or  more. 

The  other  industrial  plant  in  the  same  vicinity  is  that  of  the  Portable 
Elevator  Company,  which  has  grown  from  small  beginnings  for  the  past 
twenty-five  years,  having  taken  over  the  factory  formerly  occupied  by 
the  W.  R.  White  Gate  Company.  The  Portable  makes  grain  elevators  and 
kindred  products  and  has  patronage  extending  from  one  end  of  the  coun- 
try to  the  other.  G.  Burt  Read  is  president  of  the  company;  W.  S.  Har- 
wood  vice-president,  and  L.  G.  Whitmer  secretary. 

Further  north  along  the  Illinois  Central  Railroad  are  located  the 
plants  of  the  Dodge-Dickinson  Company,  makers  of  mattresses  and  kin- 
dred products ;  the  Hayes-Hamilton  Stove  Company,  and  the  Davis  Ewing 
Concrete  Company,  all  doing  a  large  business. 

The  Paul  F.  Beich  Company,  owners  and  operators  of  a  very  large 
candy-making  plant  in  Bloomington,  is  one  of  the  well-established  and 
best-known  industries  of  McLean  County.    Mr.  Beich,  the  founder,  began 


B:*.«j»j*s»Ja.ffi3aja| 


Of  THE 


History  of  McLean  County  241 

operations  in  a  small  way  when  he  was  a  young  man,  in  a  room  on  Front 
Street.  Later  he  acquired  the  Lancaster  Caramel  Company,  which  occu- 
pied the  building  near  the  Alton  station  which  had  been  originally  built 
for  a  buggy  factory.  Eventually  Mr.  Beich  gained  control  of  the  whole 
company  and  its  plant,  and  the  Paul  F.  Beich  Co.  was  incorporated.  Sev- 
eral additions  to  the  building  have  been  made  in  the  last  fifteen  years, 
the  last  of  which  was  erected  in  1923.  The  company  manufactures  a 
great  variety  of  candies,  and  its  sales  cover  the  whole  country  and  many 
foreign  countries.  The  same  concern  operates  a  factory  in  Chicago,  but 
the  main  offices  are  in  Bloomington.  The  factory  here  employs  scores  of 
people,  many  of  them  young  women.  The  officers  are:  Paul  F.  Beich, 
president;  Frank  E.  Sweeting,  vice-president;  Ernest  H.  Black,  secretary. 

The  MaGirl  Foundry  and  Furnace  Works,  located  on  East  Oakland 
Avenue,  has  been  in  operation  for  many  years  successfully  manufactur- 
ing a  line  of  furnaces  and  other  similar  products.  It  was  founded  by  Pat- 
rick H.  MaGirl  now  deceased.    The  manager  at  present  is  James  D.  MaGirl. 

The  Bloomington  Canning  Company  is  one  of  the  important  indus- 
trial plants  of  the  county.  Its  plant  is  located  inside  the  corporate  limits 
of  Normal,  just  north  of  Division  Street.  It  has  been  in  operation  for 
about  twenty-five  years,  and. each  season  it  gathers  and  packs  hundreds 
of  thousands  of  cases  of  sweet  corn  which  is  grown  on  its  own  leased  farm 
lands  or  bought  from  farmers  with  whom  contracts  are  made  at  the  be- 
ginning of  each  season.  The  active  canning  season  is  carried  on  for  only 
about  six  or  eight  weeks  beginning  about  the  middle  of  August  and  run- 
ning into  late  September  each  year.  While  packing  is  in  progress,  the 
factory  employs  several  scores  of  people  in  the  various  operations.  A 
smaller  force  of  employes  are  in  the  plant  the  year  round  for  the  pur- 
pose of  boxing  and  shipping  out  the  product  as  ordered.  The  sales  of  the 
goods  from  this  factory  cover  nearly  every  part  of  the  country.  The 
company  was  owned  and  managed  for  several  years  by  Peter  Whitmer, 
R.  F.  Evans,  William  L.  Evans  and  J.  0.  Willson,  all  now  deceased.  The 
present  officers  of  the  company  are:  Ira  S.  Whitmer,  president;  Leroy 
G.  Whitmer,  vice-president;  Charles  D.  Myers,  secretary. 

For  the  past  20  years  Bloomington  has  been  known  as  an  important 
point  for  jobbing  interests.  This  has  been  especially  true  in  the  line  of 
wholesale  grocery  establishments,  of  which  there  are  three  larger  ones. 

(14) 


242  History  of  McLean  County 

Each  of  these  handles  hundreds  of  thousands  of  dollars  worth  of  groceries 
in  a  year,  having  large  establishments. 

J.  F.  Humphreys  &  Co.  for  many  years  occupied  a  building  at  Grove 
and  East,  but  lately  bought  the  large  warehouse  on  South  Main,  formerly 
used  by  the  Illinois  Moline  Plow  Co.  The  officers  are :  Howard  Humphreys, 
president;  R.  O.  Ahlenius,  vice-president;  Rogers  Humphreys,  secretary- 
treasurer. 

The  Campbell  Holton  Company,  wholesale  grocers,  have  a  large  ware- 
house and  shipping  plant  on  South  Gridley  Street,  formerly  the  plant  of 
the  Continental  Packing  Company.  It  has  been  remodeled  and  enlarged 
for  the  use  of  the  Holton  Company  and  is  a  modern  plant  in  every  way. 
The  officers  of  the  company  are:  Campbell  Holton,  president;  H.  W. 
Kelly,  vice-president;  C.  A.  Stephenson,  secretary;  E.  M.  Evans  treasurer. 

The  Cumming  Wholesale  Grocery  Company  occupies  the  building  on 
South  Center  which  is  a  part  of  the  Johnson  Transfer  Co.  plant.  It  was 
formerly  known  as  Hawks,  Incorporated,  having  been  founded  by  E.  B. 
Hawks  and  his  associates  and  transferred  last  year  to  the  present  corpo- 
ration. The  officers  are  W.  H.  Cumming,  president  and  treasurer ;  Egbert 
B.  Hawk,  vice-president;  L.  W.  Bosworth,  secretary;  directors,  W.  H. 
Cumming,  Charles  F.  Scholer,  E.  B.  Hawk,  L.  W.  Bosworth  and  Charles 
F.  J.  Agle. 

In  years  gone  by,  the  nurseries  of  the  county  formed  an  important 
factor  in  its  business.  They  were  located  mostly  in  the  vicinity  of  Normal, 
where  the  era  prior  to  the  Civil  War  several  very  large  nurseries,  they 
being  among  the  largest  in  the  central  west,  in  fact.  They  were  the  Over- 
man nurseries,  the  Mann  nurseries,  the  Phoenix  nursery,  the  Augustine 
nurseries,  and  Home  nursery,  the  Corn  Belt,  and  several  others.  Changes 
have  taken  place  in  that  business  as  in  all  others  in  the  last  generation, 
but  the  nursery  business  still  forms  an  important  part  of  the  general 
business  and  industrial  activities  of  the  county.  The  last  city  directory 
of  Bloomington  and  Normal  indicated  that  there  are  eight  nurseries  now 
doing  business  here,  some  of  them  of  many  years'  establishment,  and 
others  having  come  upon  the  field  of  comparatively  recent  date. 

The  manufacturing  and  industrial  interests  of  Bloomington  and  Mc- 
Lean County  include  very  many  smaller  plants  both  in  the  county  seat, 
at  Normal  and  in  several  towns  of  the  county.  The  products  of  these 
plants  are  widely  distributed,  and  the  money  coming  in  from  them  forms 
one  of  the  factors  of  the  prosperity  of  the  county  and  its  people. 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 


RAILROADS. 


ILLINOIS  CENTRAL  OLDEST— FINANCES — BUILDING  OF  EAST  AND  WEST  LINES- 
VOTING  OF  BONDS — BUILDING  ROAD  NORTH  AND  SOUTH — C.  &  A.  SHOPS- 
GROWTH  OF  RAILROADS — VALUATION  OF  RAILROAD  PROPERTY— ELECTRIC 
RAILROADS— TELEGRAPH  COMPANIES. 

McLean  County  has  four  steam  railroads  passing  through  its  county 
seat,  and  there  are  two  other  steam  roads  crossing  the  county,  one  along 
the  northern  edge,  the  other  across  the  southeast  corner.  The  oldest 
of  these  roads  in  point  of  first  being  projected,  is  the  Illinois  Central, 
which  was  part  of  the  great  scheme  of  internal  improvements  which  the 
state  legislature  voted  in  1837.  The  road  was  to  be  built  from  Galena  to 
Cairo,  but  its  exact  route  across  the  state  was  uncertain.  The  state  voted 
its  credit  to  the  Central  road  to  the  extent  of  $3,500,000.  The  building  of 
the  road  was  started,  when  the  financial  catastrophe  of  1841  occurred,  and 
its  further  construction  was  delayed  ten  years.  On  Sept.  30,  1850,  a  law 
passed  congress  donating  to  the  State  of  Illinois  for  the  use  of  the  Cen- 
tral railroad  nearly  2,500,000  acres  of  public  land,  the  state  to  dictate  the 
terms  on  which  the  land  was  to  be  granted.  The  state  in  turn  required 
by  law  that  the  Central  road  should  pay  to  the  state  treasury  7  per  cent 
of  its  gross  receipts.  This  payment  grew  as  years  went  on  until  it  reached 
$1,000,000  per  year.  Afterward  many  of  the  counties,  including  Mc- 
Lean, complained  that  part  of  this  money  received  from  the  Illinois  Cen- 
tral, should  go  into  the  county  treasuries  of  the  counties  through  which 
the  road  was  built.  When  the  line  was  to  be  laid  out  for  the  construc- 
tion of  the  road,  General  Gridley  was  in  the  Legislature,  and  he  tried  to 

243 


244  History  of  McLean  County 

get  it  routed  through  Decatur,  Clinton  and  Bloomington,  three  county 
seats  within  his  district.  Owing  to  much  rivalry  for  the  route,  it  seemed 
that  his  purpose  might  be  defeated,  but  he  secured  its  final  routing  to 
pass  within  five  miles  east  of  the  corner  of  town  21  north  range  on  1  east. 
This  point  is  two  and  a  half  miles  east  of  Heyworth,  which  would  have 
routed  the  road  eight  miles  east  of  Bloomington.  General  Gridley's  pur- 
pose was  accomplished,  for  when  the  building  of  the  road  was  begun  it 
was  seen  that  it  must  be  constructed  through  Decatur,  Clinton  and  Bloom- 
ington. The  first  part  of  the  line  was  built  from  the  north,  and  a  train 
was  run  down  from  LaSalle  to  Bloomington  on  May  3,  1853.  The  panic 
of  1857  came  soon  after  the  building  of  the  road  this  far,  and  the  further 
development  of  the  line  was  much  retarded. 

The  east  and  west  steam  roads  running  through  Bloomington  had 
checkered  careers  in  getting  started.  The  line  known  as  the  Big  Four 
of  recent  years,  and  later  as  the  New  York  Central,  from  Peoria  to  Dan- 
ville, was  first  projected  in  1837  as  part  of  the  great  internal  improve- 
ment scheme  mentioned  in  connection  with  the  Illinois  Central.  The  road 
had  been  graded  from  Pekin  to  Mackinaw  when  the  hard  times  of  1841 
came.  This  retarded  the  completion  of  the  road  for  more  than  ten  years, 
in  j  857  a  vote  was  taken  on  the  proposition  of  Bloomington  Township 
voting  bonds  of  $100,000  to  assist  in  financing  this  road,  but  by  a  vote 
of  1,570  to  1,166  it  was  defeated.  The  project  lay  dormant  until  about 
1866,  when  it  was  revived.  The  following  year  Bloomington  Township 
did  vote  the  $100,000  bonds  for  this  enterprise,  while  Empire  Township 
also  bonded  itself  for  $75,000  to  aid  the  road,  and  West  Township  gave 
$20,000  in  a  similar  way.  The  line  was  completed  from  Pekin  to  Bloom- 
ington on  May  31,  1870.  It  later  became  known  as  the  Indianapolis, 
Eioomington  &  Western,  then  the  Peoria  &  Eastern,  and  finally  the  Big 
Four  and  now  the  New  York  Central. 

Early  in  the  '50's  there  was  a  project  for  building  the  Peoria,  Bloom- 
ington &  Lafayette  Railroad,  which,  however,  did  not  get  much  of  a  start. 
It  was  revived  in  1867  under  the  name  of  the  Lafayette,  Bloomington  & 
Mississippi,  to  be  built  first  from  Bloomington  to  Lafayette,  Ind.,  and 
eventually  completed  west  to  Peoria.  On  June  3,  1867,  Bloomington 
Township  voted  $100,000  in  bonds  to  aid  this  road,  McLean  County  also 
subscribed  for  $20,000  of  bonds,  and  various  townships  along  its  route 
voted  aid  as  follows:    Padua,   $30,000;   Arrowsmith,   $30,000;   Cheney's 


History  of  McLean  County  245 

Grove,  $50,000;  village  of  Saybrook,  $10,000.  The  road  was  completed 
from  Lafayette  to  Bloomington  in  1872,  and  it  was  completed  west  to 
Peoria  in  1885.  The  name  changed  several  times,  being  known  as  the 
Lake  Erie  &  Western,  and  now  as  the  Nickel  Plate.  The  state  constitu- 
tion of  1870  prevented  any  county  or  municipality  issuing  bonds  to  aid 
a  railroad,  hence  after  that  year  no  railroad  bonds  were  voted. 

In  point  of  its  future  effect  upon,  the  prosperity  of  Bloomington  and 
of  McLean  County  in  general,  the  most  important  railroad  built  into  the 
city  and  county  was  what  is  now  known  as  the  Chicago  &  Alton,  but  which 
in  its  earlier  stages  was  known  as  the  Alton  &  Sangamon  road.  This 
road,  connecting  the  great  cities  of  Chicago  and  St.  Louis,  with  Bloom- 
ington its  principal  division  terminal,  was  built  in  sections  under  at  least 
five  different  charters  granted  by  the  State  of  Illinois.  When  it  came 
into  McLean  County  it  arrived  rather  quietly,  and  with  no  flourish  of 
trumpets  as  had  the  Illinois  Central  road.  The  Central  had  been  under 
discussion  in  the  State  of  Illinois  since  1836,  and  its  extension  south 
from  LaSalle  in  1853  brought  to  Bloomington  its  greatest  crowd  of  peo- 
ple known  up  to  that  time  when  the  first  train  reached  the  city.  On  Feb. 
6,  1851,  General  Gridley,  then  a  member  of  the  State  Senate,  wrote  a 
letter  to  the  Western  Intelligencer,  published  at  Bloomington,  in  which 
he  exulted  over  the  passage  by  the  Legislature  of  the  bill  chartering  the 
Illinois  Central  Railroad,  and  added:  "I  am  also  of  the  opinion  that  the 
bill  extending  the  charter  of  the  Alton  &  Sangamon  Railroad  Company 
to  Bloomington  will  pass  the  house  and  become  a  law;  in  which  event  I 
am  assured  by  the  agent  of  the  company  that  the  road  will  be  constructed 
and  completed  in  two  years." 

The  bill  did  pass  the  Legislature,  surveys  were  made,  the  contracts 
let  for  building  the  road  north  to  Bloomington,  and  on  Oct.  16,  1853,  the 
first  trains  were  run  from  the  south  into  Bloomington.  For  several  months 
the  trains  from  the  south  connected  with  the  Illinois  Central  at  Blooming- 
ton Junction  (Normal),  thence  over  the  Central  via  LaSalle  to  Chicago. 
At  that  time  the  road  advertised  to  take  passengers  to  New  York  via 
Chicago  "in  only  sixty  hours." 

As  the  road  reached  Bloomington  in  the  late  fall,  it  was  impossible 
to  finish  the  line  north  until  the  following  summer.  The  building  started 
north  from  Bloomington  and  was  finished  so  that  an  excursion  train  was 
run  down  from  Lexington  on  July  4,  1854.    The  Joliet  &  Chicago  road  had 


246  History  of  McLean  County 

been  previously  constructed,  so  that  when  the  extension  north  from 
Bloomington  to  Chicago  was  made,  the  line  was  completed  from  St.  Louis 
to  Chicago.  The  Illinois  Central  depot  was  located  at  the  eastern  edge 
of  town,  and  the  leaders  of  that  day,  Jesse  Fell  and  others,  thought  it 
best  to  locate  the  Chicago  &  Alton  depot  on  the  western  edge,  thinking 
the  town  would  spread  out  between  the  two.  Jesse  Fell,  David  Davis, 
General  Gridley  and  others  secured,  donations  of  land  and  other  gifts  to 
secure  for  Bloomington  the  location  of  the  repair  shops  of  the  new  road, 
thus  laying  the  foundations  of  what  proved  to  be  the  city's  chief  indus- 
trial enterprise.  The  shops  in  turn  gave  rise  to  the  idea  of  building  from 
Bloomington  the  new  division  to  Jacksonville  in  1867,  for  which  Bloom- 
ington Township  and  city  of  Bloomington  voted  bonds  of  $75,000.  If  this 
aid  had  not  been  given,  the  Jacksonville  line  would  have  been  built  north 
from  Delavan  to  Washington. 

The  small  shops  of  the  C.  &  A.  erected  in  1853-54  were  burned  down 
in  1867,  and  it  required  a  strong  effort  on  the  part  of  citizens  to  secure 
consent  to  rebuild  here,  for  Chicago,  Springfield  and  Joliet  were  all  seek- 
ing the  location.  The  fact  that  the  road  had  three  divisions  centering 
here  was  one  of  the  main  arguments  in  favor  of  Bloomington. 

As  an  indication  of  the  growth  and  developments  of  the  railroads  and 
their  holdings  in  McLean  County,  the  figures  of  the  assessed  valuation 
of  railorad  property  in  the  county  for  the  year  1923  may  be  cited.  There 
are  in  this  county  for  the  year  1923  a  total  of  218  miles  of  steam  rail- 
way lines,  the  total  property  value  of  which  as  assessed  by  the  state  tax 
commission  was  $4,144,542,  while  the  total  assessed  valuation  was  $2,589,- 
677.  It  is  well  known  that  the  assessed  valuation  is  one-half  of  the  real 
valuation,  and  even  at  that  the  figures  are  always  very  low.  Railroads  of 
the  county,  the  number  of  miles  of  each  and  the  total  amount  of  prop- 
erty as  assessed  by  the  state  tax  commission  for  the  year  1923  were  as 
follows : 

Chicago  &  Alton — Forty-two  miles;  assessed  valuation,  $849,712; 
property  values,  $1,807,620.  Bloomington  &  Jacksonville  (branch  of  Chi- 
cago &  Alton),  14  miles;  assessed  valuation  $198,729;  property  values, 
$296,171. 

Chicago  and  Springfield  division  of  the  Illinois  Central — Ten  miles; 
assessed  valuation,  $136,383;  property  values,  $201,600. 


History  of  McLean  County  247 

Kankakee  and  Southwestern  division  of  Illinois  Central — Twenty- 
nine  miles;  assessed  valuation,  $233,864;  property  values,  $275,551. 

Main    line    Illinois    Central — One  mile;    property    values,  $953. 

Rantoul  division  Illinois  Central — Seventeen  miles;  assessed  valua- 
tion, $136,067;  property  values,  $164,316. 

Lake  Erie  &  Western — Forty-two  miles;  assessed  valuation,  $421,900; 
property  values,  $543,181. 

Peoria  &  Eastern — Thirty-seven  miles;  assessed  valuation,  $371,442; 
property  values,  $529,805. 

Toledo,  Peoria  &  Western — Twenty-one  miles;  assessed  valuation, 
$211,394;  property  values,  $278,472. 

Wabash,  C.  &  P. — Two  miles;  assessed  valuation,  $30,197;  property 
values,  $46,873. 

Bloomington,  Decatur  &  Champaign  Electric  Railroad — Thirteen 
miles;  assessed  valuation,  $78,558;  property  values,  $93,989. 

St.  Louis,  Springfield  &  Peoria  Electric  Railroad — Sixteen  miles;  as- 
sessed valuation,  $101,033;  property  values,  $128,922. 

The  two  electric  railroads  last  mentioned  are  parts  of  the  Illinois 
Traction  System,  whose  total  mileage  in  this  county  is  30  miles,  and  total 
assessed  valuation  $179,591 ;  total  property  values,  $223,285. 

The  first  use  of  a  telegraph  line  into  Bloomington  or  McLean 
County  took  place  on  January  28,  1854.  The  line  was  from  Springfield  to 
Bloomington,  which  was  constructed  after  citizens  of  Bloomington  had 
subscribed  $1,000  as  a  bonus  to  the  Western  Union  Telegraph  Company 
for  such  a  line.  In  August,  1853,  John  Caton,  pioneer  of  the  Western 
Union,  came  to  Bloomington  and  told  General  Gridley  that  if  the  citizens 
would  take-  $1,000  of  stock  his  company  would  give  the  city  an  office  on  the 
line  from  Springfield  to  Chicago.  The  purse  of  $1,000  was  made  up,  mostly 
in  subscriptions  of  $50  each,  and  the  poles  were  soon  set  and  wires  strung. 
The  first  message,  sent  on  January  28,  from  Springfield  to  the  editor  of 
the  Pantagraph,  as  follows: 

"C.  P.  Merriman:  May  the  new  communication  by  telegraph,  so  aus- 
piciously opened,  continue  for  ages.    Signed,  S.  Francis." 

Matthew  L.  Steele  was  the  first  operator,  who  served  till  1866,  when 
Arthur  T.  McElhiney  succeeded  him  and  filled  the  position  for  25  years. 


248  History  of  McLean  County 

The  telegraph  companies  in  Bloomington  have  kept  pace  with  modern 
facilities  and  improvements  in  other  lines.  The  Western  Union  now  has 
a  large  and  handsomely  equipped  office  located  at  210  West  Washington 
Street. 

The  Postal  Telegraph  Company  established  an  office  in  Bloomington 
some  20  years'  ago  and  have  since  maintained  it. 


CHAPTER  XIX. 


BANKS. 


FIRST  RECORDED  LOAN  IN  COUNTY— PIONEER  BANKS— PANICS — INCREASE  IN 
NUMBER  OF  STATE  BANKS — LIST  OF  PRESENT  McLEAN  COUNTY  BANKS — 
DEPOSITS. 

Banks  and  banking-  institutions  as  we  know  them  now  did  not  exist 
in  the  earlier  years  of  McLean  County.  In  fact,  for  many  years  after 
the  white  settlers  began  to  take  up  land  in  this  section  of  Illinois,  they 
could  buy  the  land  from  the  government  at  $1.25  per  acre,  but  they  were 
unable  to  secure  funds  with  which  to  buy  the  necessary  implements  and 
stock  for  the  proper  conduct  of  their  farms.  The  first  recorded  loans  of 
money  made  in  this  county  were  those  in  the  year  1829,  when  Dr.  Peebles 
seemed  to  be  the  principal  man  engaged  in  any  kind  of  money  loaning 
business.  In  the  period  just  preceding  1836,  there  was  a  large  influx  of 
population  into  this  county,  and  money  became  more  plentiful,  due  to 
speculative  buying  and  selling  of  lands  and  town  lots.  Then  came  the 
panic  of  1837,  and  money  went  flat  again,  for  everybody  was  hard  up. 
Governor  Ford,  in  his  message  of  1843,  told  the  Legislature  that  he  did 
not  believe  there  was  over  $400,000  of  money  in  circulation  in  the  whole 
state  of  Illinois. 

For  the  ten-year  period  prior  to  the  Civil  War  there  were  three  banks 
in  Bloomington,  operating  under  the  state  banking  law,  but  none  in  any 
other  town  of  the  county.  When  the  Civil  War  came  on,  banks  holding 
bonds  of  the  southern  states  found  them  very  greatly  depreciated  and 
some  banks  caught  with  many  southern  bonds  had  to  go  out  of  business. 
One  such  bank  was  the  Lafayette  Bank  of  Bloomington.     Gridley's  bank, 

249 


250  History  of  McLean  County 

started  in  1853,  found  its  notes  subject  to  great  discounts.  The  prede- 
cessor of  the  First  National  Bank  had  declined  to  use  southern  bonds  as 
the  basis  of  its  issues,  hence  it  got  over  the  crisis  and  reorganized  in  1862 
as  the  First  National  Bank.  It  then  began  to  operate  under  the  national 
banking  laws  instead  of  the  state.  Peoria,  Springfield,  Chicago  and  In- 
dianapolis banks  in  those  days  supplied  most  of  the  money  needed  by 
farmers  for  buying  cattle  and  other  farm  operations.  The  interest  charges 
were  very  high,  being  2  per  cent  per  month  as  the  minimum. 

Another  era  of  hard  times  in  1873  resulted  in  the  failure  of  the  Home 
Bank  of  Bloomington,  run  by  McClun,  Holder  &  Co.  The  First  National 
Bank,  which  had  been  organized  on  a 'permanent  basis  in  1865,  remained 
as  solid  as  a  rock  and  pursued  a  careful  and  judicious  policy. 

The  number  of  banks  grew  rapidly  in  the  20  years  from  1875  until 
1895,  and  at  the  close  of  the  period  there  was  one  or  more  banks  in  nearly 
every  important  town  in  the  county.  Many  of  these  were  private  banks, 
but  when  a  law  was  passed  about  1911  that  all  private  banks  must  organ- 
ize under  state  or  federal  direction,  then  some  of  the  smaller  banks  went 
out  of  business.  At  one  time  in  Bloomington,  about  1905,  there  were 
seven  banks  in  operation.  Then  consolidations  took  place,  and  the  num- 
ber of  banks  in  Bloomington  now  (1923)  is  five.  The  Corn  Belt  Bank, 
the  McLean  County  Bank  and  the  American  State  Bank  were  the  younger 
of  the  institutions,  but  they  have  outlived  some  of  the  older  banks.  The 
Third  National  was  first  absorbed  by  the  First  National.  Then  the  State 
National  and  the  State  Trust  and  Savings  were  combined  with  the  First 
National  Bank  and  the  building  of  the  latter  was  remodeled  to  accommo- 
date the  larger  institution.  The  American  State  bought  the  Metropole 
Hotel  Building  in  1923  and  made  it  into  a  first-class  banking  house.  The 
Corn  Belt  remodeled  its  entire  interior.  The  People's  Bank  erected  in 
1902  a  seven-story  bank  building,  the  only  seven-story  structure  in  the 
downtown  district. 

In  towns  outside  of  Bloomington  many  of  the  banks  own  their  own 
homes,  and  occupy  up-to-date  quarters.  The  following  is  a  list  of  the 
banks  in  McLean  County,  with  the  year  of  their  organization  and  their 
present  officers: 

Anchor  State  Bank,  founded  1895,  president,  Jacob  Martens;  vice- 
president,  J.  H.  Nafsizer;  cashier,  H.  B.  Ulmer. 


History  of  McLean  County  251 

Arrowsmith  State  Bank,  founded  1893 ;  president,  J.  H.  Jacobs ;  vice- 
presidents,  G.  F.  Lester  and  G.  A.  Builta;  cashier,  Raymond  Webber. 

Bellflower  Exchange  Bank;  founded  1906;  president,  J.  E.  Smith; 
vice-president,  H.  F.  Helmick;  cashier,  Helen  Helmick. 

Bellflower  State  Bank,  founded  1892 ;  president,  A.  F.  Gooch ;  vice- 
president,  D.  R.  Gooch,  Jr. ;  cashier,  A.  G.  Gooch. 

Corn  Belt  Bank,  Bloomington,  founded  1892 ;  president,  John  J.  Pitts ; 
vice-president,  0.  P.  Skaggs;  cashier,  C.  J.  Mover. 

American  State  Bank,  Bloomington;  founded  1902;  president,  Albert 
Wochner;  vice-president,  Frank  Oberkoetter;  cashier,   Adolph  Wochner. 

First  National  Bank,  Bloomington ;  founded  1865 ;  C.  W.  Robinson, 
chairmon  of  board ;  Wilber  M.  Carter,  president ;  H.  K.  Hoblit,  H.  W.  Hall, 
J.  J.  Condon,  vice-presidents;  Frank  M.  Rice,  cashier. 

First  Trust  and  Savings  Bank,  Bloomington;  president,  Wilber  M. 
Carter;  vice-presidents,  H.  K.  Hoblit  and  W.  J.  Carter;  cashier,  Leonne 
Robinson. 

Liberty  State  Bank,  Bloomington;  founded  1920;  president,  John  W. 
Rodgers;  vice-presidents,  E.  E.  Fincham  and  Phil  Wood;  cashier,  P.  A. 
Johnson. 

McLean  County  Bank,  Bloomington;  founded  1903;  president,  Lee 
Rust;  vice-presidents,  R.  R.  Johnson,  Howard  H.  Rust;  cashiers,  W.  L. 
Rust,  J.  P.  Arnett. 

People's  Bank,  Bloomington;  founded  1869;  president,  W.  L.  Moore; 
president  of  board,  F.  D.  Marquis ;  vice-president,  L.  H.  Weldon. 

Farmers  State  Bank,  Carlock;  founded  1899;  president,  J.  E.  O'Hara; 
vice-president,  S.  E.  Maurer;  cashier,  H.  B.  Carlock. 

Farmers  Bank,  Chenoa ;  founded  1884 ;  president,  J.  S.  Kelly ;  vice- 
president,  Maurice  Monroe;  cashier,  C.  H.  Merriott. 

State  Bank  of  Chenoa,  founded  1892;  president,  A.  D.  Jordan;  cashier, 
L.  L.  Silliman. 

Farmers  State  Bank,  Colfax;  founded  1903;  president,  Charles  At- 
kinson ;  vice-president,  Joseph  Martin,  Sr. ;  cashier,  Edna  M.  Atkinson. 

Citizens  State  Bank,  Cropsey ;  president,  E.  T.  Lange ;  vice-presidents, 
S.  E.  Thomas,  John  Brucker;  cashier,  G.  M.  Meeker. 

Cropsey  State  Bank;  founded  1892;  president,  M.  B.  Meeker;  vice- 
president,  H.  C.  Cantle;  cashier,  J.  H.  Barnes. 


252  History  of  McLean  County 

State  Bank  of  Cooksville;  founded  1892;  president,  N.  L.  Elbert;  vice- 
president,  Wesley  Woodard;  cashier,  Edward  Weidner. 

Farmer  State  Bank,  Danvers;  president,  J.  C.  Nafziger;  vice-presi- 
dent, W.  Miller;  cashier,  W.  D.  Kitchell. 

First  National  Bank,  Danvers ;  founded  1903 ;  president,  C.  R.  Ewins ; 
vice-president,  Peter  Risser;  cashier,  Lyle  Stuckey. 

Farmers  State  Bank,  Downs;  founded  1901;  president,  J.  R.  Carlisle; 
vice-president,  W.  M.  Buckles;  cashier,  E.  B.  Lanier. 

Bank  of  Ellsworth,  founded  1891;  president,  C.  A.  Shinkle;  vice-presi- 
dent, Tobey  Bane;  cashier,  C.  C.  Kreitzer. 

State  Bank  of  Gridley;  founded  1891;  president,  W.  D.  Castle;  vice- 
president,  J.  R.  Heiple;  cashier,  J.  R.  Heiple. 

Farmers  State  Bank,  Hey  worth,  founded  1906;  president,  C.  H. 
Russum;  vice-president,  Albert  Fulton;  cashier,  J.  T.  Buck. 

Heyworth  State  Bank;  founded  1891;  president,  J.  P.  Shelton;  vice- 
president,  F.  L.  Wakefield;  cashier,  L.  T.  Rutledge. 

Bank  of  Holder,  Holder;  founded  1905;  president,  H.  M.  Murray;  vice- 
president,  S.  Evans;  cashier,  F.  W.  Boston. 

Hudson  State  Bank;  founded  1900;  president,  J.  F.  Shepard;  vice- 
president,  William  Humphries;  cashier,  R.  A.  Ensign. 

First  National  Bank,  Leroy;  founded  1903;  president,  H.  H.  Crum- 
baugh;  vice-presidents,  G.  E.  Dooley  and  J.  W.  Weidner;  cashier,  R.  E. 
Kimler. 

1924  Leroy  State  Bank;  W.  F.  Crumbaugh,  president;  vice-president 
and  cashier,  J.  Keenan. 

People's  Bank,  Lexington;  founded  1900;  president,  J.  J.  Kemp; 
vice-president,  R.  T.  Claggett;  cashier,  L.  B.  Strayer. 

State  Bank  of  Lexington;  founded  1895;  president,  Noah  Franklin; 
vice-president,  N.  E.  Franklin;  cashier,  O.  L.  Hiser. 

McLean  State  Bank,  McLean;  founded  1860;  president,  Frank  W. 
Aldrich;  vice-presidents,  H.  M.  Palmer,  S.  B.  VanNewss;  cashier,  J.  W. 
Baker. 

First  National  Bank,  Normal;  founded  1893;  president,  D.  G.  Fitz- 
gerrell;  vice-president,  D.  C.  Smith;  cashier,  W.  H.  Odell. 

Normal  State  Bank ;  president,  E.  E.  Finsham ;  vice-president,  Thomas 
Sylvester;  cashier,  J.  F.  Shepard. 


History  of  McLean  County  253 

Saybrook  Bank,  Saybrook;  founded  1878;  president,  C.  A.  Schure- 
man;  vice-president,  Robert  Means;  cashier,  R.  R.  Cheney. 

Saybrook  State  Bank;  president,  F.  B.  Youle;  vice-president,  Jacob 
Froehlich;  cashier,  C.  0.  Parvin. 

Stanford  State  Bank;  founded  1891;  president,  W.  H.  Springer;  vice- 
president,  F.  W.  Schulz;  cashier,  Frank  L.  Garst. 

The  total  deposits  of  the  banks  in  McLean  County  will  reach  the  large 
figure  of  over  $21,000,000.  When  we  consider  that  a  few  years  ago  prac- 
tically all  the  money  that  was  loaned  in  this  vicinity  came  from  banking 
institutions  in  the  east,  the  fact  of  the  great  sums  on  deposit  now  belong- 
ing to  our  own  people,  which  is  used  in  turn  for  the  promotion  of  business 
and  farming  enterprises  within  the  county,  it  can  be  seen  that  the  popu- 
lation of  the  county  is  now  on  a  self-sustaining  basis  such  as  might  have 
been  not  dreamed  of  in  the  former  times.  In  the  old  days,  the  banks  of 
the  city  and  county  depended  upon  voluntary  deposits  for  the  funds  with 
which  to  operate,  outside  of  their  own  capital.  In  the  last  two  decades, 
however,  a  decided  change  of  policy  has  come  over  the  banks,  and  they 
now  advertise  in  the  columns  of  the  newspapers  much  the  same  as  other 
commercial  enterprises.  There  is  one  difference,  however:  the  banks  urge 
and  teach  thrift,  the  virtue  of  saving,  in  order  that  each  customer  increase 
his  balance  and  therefore  his  own  independence.  In  this  way,  the  increase 
of  bank  deposits  tends  to  increase  the  general  welfare  and  stability  of  the 
whole  community. 


CHAPTER  XX. 


McLEAN  COUNTY  BAR. 


HIGH  PROFESSIONAL  STANDARD — LAW  LIBRARY— ABRAHAM  LINCOLN  PRACTICED 
HERE — ADLAI  E.  STEVENSON — DAVID  DAVIS — EARLY  ATTORNEYS  WHO 
PRATICED  HERE— A  LIST  OF  OTHER  McLEAN  COUNTY  LAWYERS — PRESENT 
DAY  LAWYERS. 

Special  distinction  attaches  to  the  organization  of  the  McLean  County 
bar,  for  its  membership  has  included  scores  of  men  who  attained  local, 
state  or  national  eminence  in  their  profession,  or  in  its  ally,  statesman- 
ship. The  bar  of  the  county  as  a  whole  has  always  borne  a  reputation  for 
high  ideals  of  professional  action. 

In  the  realm  of  public  affairs,  the  bar  of  McLean  County  has  given  to 
the  state  and  nation  a  vice-president,  a  president  of  the  U.  S.  Senate  pro 
tern,  a  United  States  Senator,  a  justice  of  the  Supreme  Court,  a  United 
States  minister  plenipotentiary,  a  member  of  the  interstate  commerce 
commission,  an  assistant  postmaster-general,  seven  members  of  Congress, 
a  judge  of  the  United  States  court  of  claims,  a  federal  district  judge,  two 
governors  of  Illinois,  a  secretary  of  state  of  Illinois,  a  judge  and  two 
reporters  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  Illinois,  a  chairman  of  the  State  Board 
of  Pardons,  two  state  railroad  and  warehouse  commissioners,  a  peniten- 
tiary commissioner  and  many  men  who  attained  exalted  military  rank  in 
the  service  of  their  country. 

The  bar  of  this  county  included  graduates  from  many  of  the  prin- 
cipal universities  and  law  schools  of  the  United  States,  including  Har- 
vard, Michigan,  and  Chicago  and  Illinoiss  Universities.  The  Bloomington 
Law  School,  an  adjunct  of  the  Wesleyan  University,  has  turned  out  many 
able  and  well-qualified  attorneys  of  late  years. 

254 


History  of  McLean  County  255 

A  large  and  comprehensive  law  library  is  maintained  by  the  bar  asso- 
ciation, with  a  large  room  in  the  court  house  set  aside  for  its  accommo- 
dation. In  the  great  fire  of  June  19,  1900,  this  library  was  practically  a 
total  loss,  the  monetary  damage  being  placed  at  $40,000.  Nevertheless, 
it  was  reorganized  and  incorporated  and  a  new  stock  of  law  books  pur- 
chased. Its  shelves  are  now  a  treasure  house  of  legal  citations,  and  are 
much  consulted  by  the  members  of  the  bar. 

No  summary  of  the  history  of  the  bar  of  McLean  County  could  claim 
to  be  complete  without  having  mentioned  the  fact  that  Abraham  Lincoln, 
the  great  American  President  and  martyr,  once  practiced  in  the  courts  of 
this  county,  as  well  as  those  of  the  other  counties  of  the  old  Eighth  Judi- 
cial Circuit.  Long  before  Lincoln  was  known  to  national  fame,  he  rode 
the  circuit  with  David  Davis,  Lawrence  Weldon,  Leonard  Swett,  and  other 
lawyers  of  that  day,  going  from  county  seat  to  county  seat  as  the  terms 
of  court  were  held.  He  used  to  put  up  at  the  hotels  or  taverns  of  the 
town  at  that  time  and  was  a  welcome  companion  in  many  a  social  circle 
in  the  interims  of  court.  The  home  of  Mrs.  Judith  Bradner,  which  long 
stood  at  the  corner  of  Jefferson  and  West  Streets,  had  entertained  him  on 
several  occasions  of  a  social  nature,  and  Mrs.  Bradner  during  her  later 
life  used  to  relate  circumstances  of  his  actions  and  appearance  in  those 
years.  The  late  Stephen  Smith,  a  well-known  merchant  of  Bloomington, 
just  after  the  Civil  War,  was  an  intimate  friend  of  Lincoln,  and  Mrs.  Smith 
traveled  on  the  train  with  him  when  he  went  to  Washington  to  be  inaugu- 
rated. Letitia  Green  Stevenson  Chapter  of  the  D.  A.  R.  erected,  in  1922, 
a  granite  marker  with  a  bronze  tablet  upon  it  in  the  court  house  yard  in 
Bloomington  to  commemorate  the  fact  that  Abraham  Lincoln  often  trav- 
eled this  way  on  his  professional  journeys  as  a  lawyer. 

The  highest  national  office  to  which  any  citizen  of  McLean  County 
was  elected  was  that  of  vice-president  of  the  United  States,  which  was 
filled  from  1893  to  1897,  inclusive,  by  Adlai  Ewing  Stevenson.  Mr.  Steven- 
son also  occupied  several  other  offices  of  importance,  both  elective  and 
appointive,  during  his  long  and  honorable  career  at  the  bar  of  his  adopted 
city  and  state.  Mr.  Stevenson  was  born  in  Christian  County,  Kentucky, 
Oct.  23,  1835,  the  son  of  John  T.  and  Eliza  (Ewing)  Stevenson,  and  re- 
moved with  his  parents  to  Bloomington  in  1852.  He  attended  Wesleyan 
University  and  also  Centre  College,  in  Kentucky,  studied  law  and  was 
admitted  to  the  bar  in  Illinois  in  1858,  locating  for  practice  first  at  Meta- 


256  History  of  McLean  County 

mora,  Woodford  County.  For  ten  years  he  continued  at  this  place,  occu- 
pied in  succession  the  positions  of  master  in  chancery  and  state's  attor- 
ney. In  1868  he  returned  to  Bloomington,  and  for  many  years  was  in 
partnership  in  law  practice  with  James  S.  Ewing,  his  cousin,  whom  after- 
ward he  had  appointed  U.  S.  minister  to  Belgium.  In  1864,  Mr.  Steven- 
son had  been  candidate  for  presidential  elector  on  the  Democratic  ticket, 
and  was  delegate  to  his  party's  national  conventions  in  1884  and  1892, 
serving  as  chairman  of  the  Illinois  delegation  in  the  latter  year.  He  was 
elected  to  congress  two  terms,  serving  with  distinction,  from  1875  to 
1877  and  from  1879  to  1881.  In  1877  he  was  appointed  by  President 
Hayes  as  a  member  of  the  board  of  visitors  for  West  Point.  Under  the 
first  administration  of  President  Cleveland,  Mr.  Stevenson  was  appointed 
first  assistant  postmaster  general,  serving  from  1885  to  1889.  In  1892 
he  was  nominated  by  the  Democratic  convention  for  vice-president,  being 
elected  with  Cleveland  in  the  latter's  second  term.  He  served  with  great 
distinction  for  the  four  years,  and  on  his  retirement  was  presented  with 
a  very  handsome  silver  service  by  members  of  the  Senate  for  his  unfail- 
ing courtesy  and  fairness  in  presiding  over  the  deliberations  of  that  body. 
In  1897  Mr.  Stevenson  was  appointed  by  President  McKinley  as  mem- 
ber of  the  bi-metalic  monetary  conference,  authorized  by  act  of  Congress, 
and  he  attended  the  sessions  of  the  conference  held  in  England,  France, 
Italy  and  Belgium.  In  1900  Mr.  Stevenson  was  again  nominated  for  vice- 
president,  this  time  on  the  ticket  headed  by  William  Jennings  Bryan, 
but  the  election  in  November  failed  to  give  the  ticket  a  majority,  and  Mr. 
Stevenson  again  resumed  his  law  practice  in  his  home  city.  Shortly  after 
this  he  wrote  a  book  entitled,  "Some  of  the  Men  That  I  Have  Known,"  a 
very  readable  and  popular  publication  of  personal  reminiscences.  In 
1908,  Mr.  Stevenson  was  nominated  on  the  Democratic  ticket  for  governor, 
opposed  to  Gov.  Charles  S.  Deneen.  He  ran  nearly  200,000  ahead  of  his 
ticket  and  came  within  a  few  thousand  votes  of  being  elected  on  the  face 
of  the  returns.  In  fact,  his  friends  always  contended  that  he  was  elected, 
but  they  were  unable  to  secure  a  recount  from  a  Republican  assembly. 

Mr.  Stevenson  was  married  to  Miss  Letitia  Green  at  Chenoa  on  Dec. 
20,  1866.  They  were  the  parents  of  four  children:  Lewis,  Mary  (now 
deceased),  Julia  and  Letitia.  Mr.  Stevenson  was  prominent  in  many 
Bloomington  business  enterprises,  being  president  of  the  McLean  County 
Coal  Company  for  20  years,  director  of  the  People's  Bank,  and  interested 


ADLAI   E.   STEVENSON. 


OF  THE 

■ 


LlPmqy 


JUDGE    DAVID    DAVIS. 


History  of  McLean  County  257 

in  other  commercial  matters.  Mr.  Stevenson  died  on  June  14,  1914,  and 
his  wife  preceded  him  on  Dec.  25,  1913.  The  son,  Lewis  G.  Stevenson, 
served  as  Secretary  of  State  of  Illinois,  1914-16.  Julia  Stevenson  became 
Mrs.  Martin  D.  Hardin,  wife  of  Rev.  Mr.  Hardin,  now  of  Ithaca,  N.  Y. 

Mr.  Stevenson  lived  his  later  years  quietly  at  his  home  in  Blooming- 
ton,  honored,  respected  and  beloved  by  the  whole  community  and  a  large 
circle  of  friends  elsewhere  to  whom  he  had  endeared  himself  during  his 
long  life  of  kindness  and  good  deeds.  He  stood  out  as  the  most  distin- 
guished citizen  of  Bloomington  and  McLean  County,  and  lived  long  to 
enjoy  his  merited  honors.  As  an  evidence  of  his  high  standing  in  the 
community,  there  was  placed  in  the  art  room  at  the  public  library  in 
Bloomington  soon  after  his  death  a  life-sized  portrait  of  him  by  a  fa- 
mous artist.  This  picture  was  secured  by  a  popular  subscription,  to  which 
people  in  all  walks  of  life  contributed.  It  remains  as  a  lasting  community 
memorial  to  Mr.  Stevenson. 

Three  generations  of  the  David  Davis  family  have  had  much  to  do 
with  the  settlement  and  upbuilding  of  McLean  County.  The  first  two 
generations  have  passed  away,  and  now  the  third  generation  is  in  the 
active  years  of  life,  while  the  fourth  generation  is  represented  by  young 
people  just  coming  onto  the  stage  of  action. 

David  Davis,  the  elder,  was  born  in  Cecil  County,  Md.,  on  March  9, 
1815.  He  was  educated  at  Kenyon  College,  at  Gambier,  Ohio,  then  a  noted 
school,  where  some  of  his  college  mates  were  Edwin  M.  Stanton,  Stanley 
Matthews,  Rutherford  B.  Hayes,  Henry  Winter  Davis  and  others  who 
afterward  gained  fame  in  public  life.  Graduating  from  college  in  1832, 
young  Davis  studied  law  at  Lenox,  Mass.,  with  Judge  Bishop  and  then  at 
the  New  Haven  law  school.  In  the  fall  of  1835  he  came  west,  locating  at 
Pekin,  and  then  after  one  year  removing  to  Bloomington.  He  succeeded 
to  the  law  business  of  Jesse  W.  Fell,  who  was  beginning  to  give  his  whole 
time  to  real  estate  transactions.  On  Oct.  30,  1838,  Judge  Davis  married 
Sarah  Walker,  daughter  of  Judge  Walker,  at  Lenox,  Mass.  In  1840, 
Judge  Davis  was  Whig  candidate  for  state  senator  against  Governor 
Moore,  but  the  latter  succeeded.  In  1844  he  was  elected  to  the  lower 
house  of  the  Legislature,  serving  one  term  and  declining  re-election.  In 
1847  he  was  chosen  delegate  to  the  constitutional  convention  and  helped 
frame  the  new  basic  law  which  was  adopted  by  the  people.  In  1848  he 
was  elected  without  opposition  as  judge  of  the  Eighth  Judicial  Circuit, 

(15) 


258  History  of  McLean  County 

embracing  fourteen  counties.  Judge  Davis  was  a  model  of  the  upright 
jurist,  being  prone  to  administer  the  equity  of  the  case  in  all  instances. 
He  was  just,  considerate  and  deeply  learned  in  the  law.  In  the  Eighth 
Judicial  Circuit  at  that  time  were  some  of  the  most  distinguished  lawyers 
and  judges  of  the  Illinois  bar  of  those  times.  Judge  Logan  was  the  leader 
of  the  bar,  and  among  the  other  distinguished  names  were  Abraham  Lin- 
coln, Stuart,  Baker,  Linder,  Gridley,  Judge  0.  L.  Davis,  Judge  Thornton, 
0.  B.  Ficklin,  Judge  Emerson,  C.  H.  Moore,  Judge  Benedict,  Judge  Parks, 
Judge  Edwards  and  others.  Lincoln  and  Judge  Davis  were  very  often 
companions  as  they  rode  from  county  to  county  of  the  circuit. 

Naturally  this  close  association  between  these  men  led  Judge  Davis 
to  come  to  the  front  at  an  early  date  and  propose  the  name  of  Abraham 
Lincoln  for  president  of  the  United  States.  After  "Lincoln's  nomination 
and  election,  Jesse  W.  Fell,  who  had  been  credited  with  having  first  pro- 
posed Lincoln,  wrote  a  letter,  in  which  he  said:  "To  Judge  Davis,  more 
than  any  other  man,  living  or  dead,  is  the  American  people  indebted  for 
this  extraordinary  piece  of  good  fortune,  the  nomination  and  election  of 
that  man  who  combined  in  his  person  in  so  high  a  degree  the  elements 
necessary  for  a  successful  administration  of  the  government  through  the 
late  most  critical  period  of  our  national  history." 

In  1862,  Judge  Davis  was  appointed  by  President  Lincoln  as  one  of 
the  associate  justices  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  United  States.  This 
appointment  was  made  without  solicitation  on  the  part  of  Judge  Davis. 
This  gave  him  a  wider  field  for  his  eminent  legal  talent,  and  his  work  on 
the  bench  here  included  some  decisions  which  attracted  more  attention 
than  any  others  since  the  time  of  Justice  Taney.  He  laid  down  funda- 
mental principles  of  constitutional  law  which  served  as  landmarks  if. 
many  years. 

Judge  Davis  resigned  his  high  judicial  position  in  1877  to  become 
United  States  Senator  from  Illinois  in  succession  to  John  A.  Logan  after 
the  latter's  first  term.  Senator  Davis  served  in  that  position  with  sucl 
distinction  that  on  Oct.  13,  1881,  he  was  elected  president  pro  tern  of  thi 
senate,  after  Vice-President  Chester  A.  Arthur  had  succeeded  to  the  presi- 
dency of  the  United  States  on  the  death  of  President  Garfield.  Senator 
Davis  served  out  his  term  as  acting  vice-president.  He  then  returned  to 
Bloomington  and  died  on  June  26,  1886. 


History  of  McLean  County  259 

How  near  to  becoming  president  of  the  United  States  Judge  Davis 
approached,  is  shown  by  a  glance  at  the  history  of  the  campaign  of  1872. 
Judge  Davis  was  then  on  the  supreme  bench.  The  liberal  Republicans 
held  a  convention  in  Cincinnati  to  consider  a  nominee  for  the  presidency 
to  oppose  President  Grant.  There  were  five  names  prominently  before 
the  convention,  of  which  Judge  Davis  was  pre-eminent,  the  others  being 
Gov.  B.  Gratz  Brown,  Lyman  Trumbull,  Charles  Francis  Adams,  and  Ho- 
race Greeley.  It  was  generally  conceded  that  if  Judge  Davis  were  nomi- 
nated he  would  have  been  endorsed  by  the  Democratic  convention  and  this 
would  have  meant  his  election.  But  a  series  of  deals  in  the  Cincinnati 
convention  resulted  in  the  nomination  of  Horace  Greeley,  who  was  de- 
feated at  the  election.  Prior  to  the  meeting  of  the  Cincinnati  convention, 
when  the  name  of  Davis  was  being  boosted  for  the  nomination,  plans  were 
made  for  a  special  train  bearing  McLean  County  men  to  go  over  and  at- 
tend the  meeting.  There  were  500  men  with  a  band,  and  the  delegation 
made  a  great  impression  on  the  convention  as  showing  the  popularity 
of  Judge  Davis  in  his  own  home  and  state.  Good  judges  of  political  events 
have  said  that  if  he  had  been  nominated  there  is  little  doubt  he  would 
have  been  elected. 

Judge  Davis  was  an  excellent  judge  of  real  estate,  and  to  his  presci- 
ence in  this  line  it  was  due  the  foundation  of  his  fortune.  He  made  excel- 
lent investments  in  Chicago,  and  also  acquired  many  thousands  of  acres 
of  farm  land  in  McLean  and  adjoining  counties,  as  well  as  Bloomington 
city  property.  His  liberality  and  public  spirit  were  many  times  mani- 
fested. He  gave  40  acres  of  land  to  secure  the  location  of  the  State  Nor- 
mal University  and  60  acres  to  locate  the  Soldiers'  Orphans'  Home  in 
Normal.  When  the  Alton  shops  were  burned  in  1869,  Judge  Davis  in  Chi- 
cago learned  of  a  move  to  remove  the  plant  to  another  city,  and  his  activity 
in  a  great  measure  prevented  this  and  saved  the  great  industry  for 
Bloomington. 

Jesse  W.  Fell  was  the  first  lawyer  to  make  his  home  in  McLean  County. 
He  was  born  in  Chester  County,  Pa.,  in  1808,  and  came  to  Bloomington 
in  1832.  He  had  been  admitted  to  the  bar  in  Ohio,  and  was  later  admitted 
in  Illinois,  but  retired  from  active  practice  in  1844.  He  served  as  school 
commissioner  of  McLean  County  and  was  paymaster  in  the  U.  S.  army  in 
the  Civil  War.     As  recounted  elsewhere,  he  was  influential  in  founding 


260  History  of  McLean  County 

the  town  of  Normal  and  locating  the  Normal  University  and  Soldiers' 
Orphans'  Home  there.     He  died  in  Bloomington  on  Jan.  25,  1887. 

Welcome  P.  Brown  was  an  early  lawyer  of  prominence,  coming  to  the 
county  in  1835.  He  served  as  probate  judge  and  also  police  magistrate. 
In  1842  he  removed  to  Woodford  County,  where  he  served  as  county 
judge.    Later  he  moved  to  Kansas  and  died  in  Colorado. 

Colton  Wells  came  to  the  county  in  1837  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar 
in  1842;  was  probate  judge,  1839-43;  removed  to  St.  Louis,  where  he  died 
in  1849. 

Gen.  Asahel  Gridley  was  a  lawyer  in  addition  to  his  other  activities. 
He  was  born  in  Cazenovia,  N.  Y.,  in  1810  and  came  to  Bloomington  in 
1831.  He  served  as  an  officer  of  militia  in  the  Black  Hawk  War;  was 
elected  to  the  Legislature  in  the  12th,  17th  and  18th  assemblies ;  engaged 
in  banking  and  other  commercial  enterprises.     Died  Jan.  20,  1881. 

Kersey  H.  Fell,  brother  of  Jesse  W.  Fell,  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in 
this  county  in  1841.    Retired  in  1854;  died  in  1893. 

Judge  John  M.  Scott  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  St.  Clair  County  in 
1847  and  came  to  McLain  County  the  next  year.  He  served  as  city  attor- 
ney of  Bloomington  and  circuit  judge  1862-70.  He  served  as  justice  of  the 
Supreme  Court  of  Illinois  1870-88.    He  died  Jan.  21,  1898. 

Gen.  William  W.  Orme  came  to  Bloomington  in  1850  and  was  admitted 
to  the  bar  two  years  later.  Was  master  in  chancery  and  delegate  to  the 
constitutional  convention  1862.  Was  colonel  of  the  94th  Illinois  in  1862, 
later  promoted  to  Brigadier  General.    Died  in  1866. 

Leonard  Swett  was  born  in  Maine  in  1825;  came  to  this  county  in 
1853  and  began  practice.  Served  one  term  in  Legislature  1858.  He  was 
a  close  friend  of  A.  Lincoln.  He  removed  to  Chicago  in  1865  and  died 
there,  having  retired  in  1889. 

Thomas  F.  Tipton,  a  native  of  Franklin  County,  Ohio,  came  to  McLean 
County  in  1844  and  began  practice  in  1854.  Served  as  state's  attorney 
for  Eighth  Circuit  1867-8;  circuit  judge  1870-76;  was  elected  to  Congress 
in  latter  year.    Served  as  circuit  judge  1891-97.    Died  in  1904. 

Owen  T.  Reeves,  born  in  Ohio  1829;  graduated  Ohio  Wesleyan  1850; 
removed  to  Bloomington  1854  and  began  practice;  elected  circuit  judge 
1877-91.  Was  member  appellate  court  last  three  years.  In  Civil  War 
served  colonel  of  100-day  emergency  regiment.     Was  one  of  founders  of 


History  of  McLean  County  261 

law  department  of  Wesleyan  University,  where  he  served  as  dean  many 
years. 

Reuben  M.  Benjamin  born  at  Chatham  Center,  N.  Y.,  1833;  graduated 
at  Amherst;  admitted  to  bar  in  Bloomington  in  1856  on  certificate  from 
Abraham  Lincoln.  He  was  a  prominent  member  of  the  constitutional 
convention  of  1870.  Served  as  county  judge  1873-86.  Was  author  of 
several  books  on  law,  and  taught  for  many  years  in  Wesleyan  Law  School. 

Ezra  M.  Prince,  native  of  Maine,  located  in  McLean  County  in  1856. 
He  served  as  master  in  chancery  and  taught  in  Wesleyan  Law  School. 
Was  secretary  of  McLean  County  Historical  Society  from  its  organiza- 
tion until  his  death,  and  was  author  of  many  local  historical  papers. 

Ward  H.  Lamon  was  one  of  the  prominent  early  lawyers  of  the 
county.  A  native  of  West  Virvinia,  he  came  here  in  1857,  having  pre- 
viously practiced  in  Danville,  where  he  was  associated  with  A.  Lincoln. 
Served  as  states  attorney  for  the  old  eighth  district.  After  Lincoln's 
election,  he  appointed  Lamon  marshal  for  the  District  of  Columbia.  For 
a  short  time  during  his  residence  in  Washington  he  served  as  colonel  of  a 
regiment  of  volunteers.    He  died  in  1893. 

James  S.  Ewing  came  to  Bloomington  in  1840;  in  1859  was  admitted 
to  the  bar  of  Illinois  and  practiced  law  continuously  up  to  the  time  of  his 
death,  except  the  year  when  he  was  U.  S.  minister  to  Belgium  during  the 
presidency  of  Grover  Cleveland.  He  lived  for  many  years  in  the  fine 
brick  house  at  Mulberry  and  East  Streets,  which  after  his  death  was  sold 
to  become  the  site  of  the  Consistory  Temple. 

Jonathan  H.  Rowell  was  born  at  Haverhill,  N.  H.,  in  1833;  came  to 
McLean  County  in  1849 ;  graduated  from  law  department  of  Chicago  Uni- 
versity in  1865.  Had  taught  in  Eureka  College  prior  to  the  Civil  War 
and  during  that  struggle  served  as  captain  in  Company  G,  17th  Illinois. 
After  the  war  was  chosen  master  in  chancery  and  states  attorney.  Served 
four  terms  in  Congress,  1882-90.    He  died  in  1904. 

John  McNulta  came  to  McLean  County  in  1859;  served  in  Civil  War 
from  private  to  colonel  of  94th  Illinois.  Was  elected  state  senator  in 
1868  and  to  Congress  in  1872.  During  his  latter  years  he  spent  much 
time  as  receiver  of  railroads,  one  of  them  being  the  Wabash.  He  re- 
moved to  Chicago  in  1895  and  died  there  in  1900. 

Ira  J.  Bloomfield,  a  brigadier-general  of  the  Civil  War,  practiced  law 
in  this  county  from  1866  to  1884,  when  he  removed  to  Colorado. 


262  History  of  McLean  County 

George  P.  Davis,  son  of  Judge  David  Davis,  born  in  1842,  was  ad- 
mitted to  practice  in  1867,  but  retired  from  active  practice  in  1870,  devot- 
ing himself  to  his  banking  and  farm  interests.  He  served  as  president 
of  the  McLean  County  Historical  Society  several  years  prior  to  his  death. 

Hamilton  Spencer,  former  general  manager  of  the  Chicago  &  Alton 
road,  was  also  a  practicing  lawyer  for  several  years.    He  died  in  1891. 

Lawrence  Weldon,  born  in  Ohio  in  1829,  came  to  Illinois  in  1854  and 
practiced  in  DeWitt  County  for  several  years.  Was  elected  to  Legislature 
and  chosen  as  elector  on  Republican  ticket  1860.  He  was  named  by 
President  Lincoln  as  district  attorney  for  southern  Illinois,  serving  till 
1866,  when  he  removed  to  Bloomington.  In  1883  he  was  appointed  jus- 
tice  of  the  U.  S.  Court  of  Claims  and  served  in  that  capacity  in  Wash- 
ington till  his  death  in  1905. 

Leonidas  H.  Kerrick,  an  extensive  farmer,  was  also  a  lawyer,  prac- 
ticing for  five  years,  1865-70.  Served  one  term  in  Legislature  and  sev- 
eral terms  as  trustee  of  the  University  of  Illinois.  Was  president  of  the 
board  at  his  death  in  1907. 

John  M.  Hamilton,  born  in  Ohio,  came  to  McLean  County  in  1869 
and  began  practice  in  1870.  In  1876  was  elected  state  senator  and  in 
1880  lieutenant-governor.  In  1883  he  succeeded  to  the  office  of  governor 
when  Governor  Cullom  was  chosen  U.  S.  Senator.  On  retirement  from 
governorship  in  1885  he  removed  to  Chicago,  where  he  died  in  1908. 

Joseph  Wilson  Fifer,  born  in  Virginia  in  1840,  came  to  McLean 
County  as  a  boy.  Served  as  private  in  33d  Illinois  through  the  Civil  War ; 
was  badly  wounded.  In  1868  graduated  from  Wesleyan  University  and 
Law  School.  Served  as  city  and  state's  attorney  and  was  member  of  state 
senate  1880-84.  In  1888  he  was  elected  governor  of  Illinois  and  served 
four  years.  He  was  member  of  the  Interstate  Commerce  Commission  in 
Washington  1899-06.  He  served  as  member  of  state  constitutional  con- 
vention 1920  and  is  in  active  practice  of  his  profession  (1923). 

Colostin  B.  Myers  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  Michigan,  1874,  began 
practice  of  law  in  this  county  same  year.  Was  city  attorney  and  state 
senator  one  term,  1888-92.  Was  county  judge  for  12  years  and  for  18 
years  served  as  circuit  judge.  He  served  on  the  appellate  bench  and  was 
mentioned  for  justice  of  the  Supreme  Court  and  he  received  a  large 
vote  in  convention.    He  died  Jan.  12,  1920. 


History  of  McLean  County  263 

Thomas  C.  Kerrick  came  to  McLean  County  in  1868  and  practiced 
many  years.  He  served  as  city  attorney  and  was  state  senator  one  term, 
1888.  He  was  one  of  the  delegates  to  the  constitutional  convention,  1920. 
Is  still  in  active  practice. 

James  S.  Neville  began  practice  in  1881.  He  served  as  alderman  and 
mayor  of  Bloomington  and  died  while  occupying  the  latter  office  in  1906. 
For  several  years  he  served  as  member  of  the  state  warehouse  and  railroad 
commissioner. 

John  A.  Sterling  was  admitted  in  1885 ;  elected  state's  attorney  in 
1892,  and  served  four  terms.  In  1902  he  was  elected  to  Congress  and  re- 
elected for  each  succeeding  two-year  term  except  in  the  Sixty-third  Con- 
gress. He  met  accidental  death  on  Oct.  17,  1918,  when  an  automobile  in 
which  he  was  riding  was  overturned  on  a  road  near  Pontiac. 

Alfred  Sample  was  judge  of  the  Eleventh  Circuit  for  many  years 
until  his  death.  Practiced  in  Ford  County,  served  as  city  attorney  of 
Paxton;  as  presidential  elector  for  Garfield,  1880. 

Charles  Laban  Capen  came  to  McLean  County  in  1857;  began  prac- 
tice in  1871 ;  served  as  president  of  State  Bar  Association ;  now  and  for 
many  years  dean  of  the  Wesleyan  Law  School;  served  many  years  on 
the  state  board  of  education,  in  management  of  the  Illinois  State  Nor- 
mal University. 

Hudson  Burr  was  here  after  1854;  served  as  adjutant  of  94th  Illinois 
in  Civil  War.    Died  in  1891. 

John  E.  Pollock  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  Ohio  and  Virginia,  and 
came  to  this  county  in  1866.  Served  as  master  in  chancery  and  also  was 
on  the  state  board  for  management  of  penitentiaries. 

Two  lawyers  who  practiced  outside  the  county  seat  and  yet  who  made 
their  mark  in  their  profession  during  their  lives  were  Wesley  M.  and  Les- 
lie J.  Owen,  both  of  Leroy.  They  were  native  sons  of  McLean  County, 
being  born  at  Covell,  their  parents  being  Martin  J.  and  Sarah  Hopkins 
Owen.  Leslie  taught  school  when  a  young  man,  worked  as  railway  mail 
clerk,  and  then  graduated  at  Wesleyan  Law  School.  Mr.  Owen  practiced 
very  successfully  in  partnership  with  his  twin  brother,  Wesley,  for  many 
years  at  Leroy,  and  after  the  latter's  death  Leslie  continued  until  his  own 
tragic  death.  He  was  killed  by  being  hit  by  an  automobile  near  the  Big 
Four  station  in  Bloomington  on  the  morning  of  Nov.  12,  1922.     Wesley 


264  History  of  McLean  County 

M.  Owen  also  taught  school  when  a  young  man,  and  then  attended  Wes- 
leyan  Law  School,  graduating  in  1894.  Establishing  in  practice  at  Leroy 
with  his  brother,  he  took  part  in  politics  and  in  1900  was  elected  to  the 
Legislature.  He  served  with  distinction.  In  1910  he  was  appointed  by 
President  Roosevelt  as  judge  of  the  Panama  Canal  zone,  which  office  he 
filled  with  great  ability  for  several  years.  On  retirement  he  resumed, 
practice  until  his  death  on  Oct.  16,  1917. 

Erskine  M.  Hamilton  was  admitted  to  practice  in  McLean  County  in 
1871 ;  had  served  in  84th  Ohio  in  Civil  War,  and  afterward  was  city  attor- 
ney of  Steubenville,  Ohio;  acted  as  pension  atorney  in  Bloomington  for 
many  years.    Died  about  ten  years  ago. 

Darius  H.  Pingrey  began  service  here  in  1877;  taught  in  Wesleyan 
Law  School;  was  author  of  several  legal  text-books,  including  one  on 
international  law. 

Sain  Welty,  after  graduating  from  Yale  Law  School  at  the  head  of 
his  class  in  1883,  came  to  Bloomington  and  formed  a  partnership  with 
John  A.  Sterling  in  1884.  He  served  as  city  attorney  and  as  master  in 
chancery.  In  1915  he  was  elected  circuit  judge  and  filled  the  position  with 
distinction  until  his  death  in  April,  1920. 

Judge  Edward  Barry,  the  sitting  jurist  of  this  judicial  district,  was 
admitted  to  the  bar  in  1887,  and  for  years  practiced  in  partnership  with 
Joseph  F.  Fifer  and  later  with  John  J.  Morrissey.  He  was  elected  judge 
without  opposition  at  a  special  election  after  the  death  of  Judge  Welty  in 
1920,  and  in  June,  1921,  was  elected  for  a  full  term. 

Robert  E.  Williams  was  one  of  the  eminent  members  of  the  bar  in 
the  earlier  days.  Born  in  Pennsylvania,  he  lived  in  Texas  for  some  years 
after  being  admitted  to  the  bar.  He  came  to  McLean  County  in  1856  and 
remained  here  until  his  death  in  1899.  He  attained  more  than  ordinary 
local  prominence  as  a  lawyer.  In  1868  he  was  nominated  by  the  Demo- 
cratic party  as  candidate  for  attorney-general  of  Illinois,  but  he  with  his 
party  met  defeat,  after  an  able  campaign. 

It  is  impossible  to  give  sketches  of  all  the  lawyers  of  other  years  who 
practiced  with  ability  and  success  in  McLean  County,  and  who  adorned 
the  bar  by  their  lives.  A  mere  list  of  some  of  their  names  will  bring  to 
mind  of  the  older  citizens,  men  who  served  their  day  and  generation  well. 
Following  is  a  fairly  complete  list  of  the  names: 

Franklin  Brattan,  William  H.  Hanna,  Major  W.  Packard,  Amzi  Mc- 


History  of  McLean  County  265 

Williams,  Levi  Hite,  William  H.  Holmes,  Henry  L.  Haskell,  Washington 
Wright,  Jesse  Birch,  Andrew  W.  Rodgers,  L.  L.  Strain,  Almon  B.  Ives, 
James  C.  Walker,  George  0.  Robinson,  James  E.  Flagg,  David  Brier, 
Thomas  H.  Sparrow,  Samuel  H.  Dent,  Robert  E.  Woodson,  William  H. 
Cord,  Jeremiah  Learning,  John  M.  Stillwell,  William  P.  Boyd,  Walter  M. 
Hatch,  John  B.  Cohrs,  Thomas  C.  Peek,  Simeon  P.  Ives,  Richard  Williams, 
Jesse  Bishop,  John  B.  Perry,  David  Quigg,  Augustus  C.  Reed,  Benjamin 

F.  Betzer,  Oliver  C.  Sabin,  Thomas  Slade,  John  A.  Spence,  Chas.  R.  Dichin- 
son,  Isaac  S.  Mahan,  Henry  A.  Ewing,  J.  W.  Straight,  James  Wells,  Rob-. 
McCart,  Wm.  E.  Hughes,  Zachariah  Lawrence,  Joseph  Pancake,  Henry 

G.  Reeves,  Hezekiah  Benson,  Thomas  A.  Underhill,  Winfield  S.  Coy,  Aaron 
G.  Karr,  Louis  H.  Karr,  John  F.  Winter,  William  Van  Voris,  William  E. 
Gapin,  Thomas  McNulta,  Isaac  W.  Stroud,  Orlando  Aldrich,  Charles  Shack- 
elford, Cornelius  G.  Bradshaw,  James  D.  Spencer,  James  R.  Brooks,  Parke 

E.  Temple,  John  C.  Scovel,  Joseph  M.  Weakley,  W.  C.  P.  Remine,  Nathan 

F.  Pusey,  Robert  B.  Porter,  Miletus  S.  McGrew,  William  H.  Whitehead, 
Benjamin  D.  Lucas,  Albert  Bushnell,  John  G.  Tipton,  A.  B.  Campbell,  Ran- 
dolph Pike,  Asahel  Dickinson,  Richard  Osborn,  Marshall  Williams,  Will- 
iam Duff  Haynie,  James  Gordon  Forbes,  Jesse  Lynch,  Henry  D.  Spencer, 
Alfred  Davidson,  Frank  Jackson,  Samuel  P.  Robinson,  Robert  W.  Sabin, 
Hiram  Hadley,  John  Stapleton,  Hamer  H.  Green,  Edwin  H.  Miner,  Ivory 
H.  Pike,  George  A.  Hill,  Franklin  Blades,  Frank  B.  Henderson,  William 
H.  Beaver,  Frank  Y.  Hamilton,  Jacob  P.  Lindley,  David  C.  Ross,  Edgar 
Holly,  Andrew  J.  Barr,  Robert  L.  Fleming,  Henry  Dooley,  Otto  Lowen- 
traut,  Robert  P.  McNulta,  David  P.  McDonald,  Frank  B.  McKennan,  Dwight 
E.  Will,  Roland  A.  Russell,  Joseph  J.  Thompson,  Harvey  Hart,  George  F. 
Jordan,  Miss  Effie  Henderson,  James  G.  Condon,  Ralph  F.  Potter,  Jesse  R. 
Long,  John  Mayne  Pollock,  R.  D.  Calkins,  Arthur  M.  Conard,  Edward 
Peirce,  Thomas  L.  Pollock,  Oliver  R.  Trowbridge,  Walker  McLean,  Earl 
D.  Riddle,  James  P.  Grove,  Thomas  W.  Tipton,  James  M.  Reeves,  Daniel 
H.  Bane,  Wave  Miller,  Samuel  H.  Dooley,  John  G.  Boeker,  Egbert  B. 
Hawk,  Herman  Fifer,  Charles  F.  Agle,  Benjamin  L.  Goodheart,  Albert  F. 
Monroe,  Edward  M.  Hoblit,  Edgar  Milton  Heafer,  James  J.  Love,  Verne 
J.  Swartz,  Thomas  V.  O'Donnell,  Walter  C.  Muxfeld. 

Following  are  the  present  (1923)  members  of  the  McLean  County 
bar,  who  are  in  active  practice,  together  with  the  year  in  which  each  be- 
gan his  practice:    John  Alexander,  1902;  William  R.  Bach,  1894;  William 


266  History  of  McLean  County 

F.  Costigan,  1911;  Fred  W.  Wollrab,  1915;  L.  Earl  Bach,  1921;  Dwight 
E.  Beal,  1912;  William  K.  Bracken,  1892;  Miles  K.  Young,  1890;  Nicholas 
W.  Brandicon,  1878 ;  Martin  A.  Brennan,  1903 ;  Enoch  Brock,  1886 ;  Charles 
M.  Buck,  1902;  Charles  L.  Capen,  1868;  W.  B.  Carlock,  1870;  A.  E.  De- 
Mange,   1877;   Ralph   C.   DeMange,    1907;   Earl   R.   Depew,   1915;   D.   D 
Donahue,  1899;  E.  E.  Donnelly,  1885;  E.  A.  Donnelly,  1916;  Richard  F 
Dunn,  1915;  Delmer  Dunn,  1919;  Joseph  W.  Fifer,  1869;  Jacob  A.  Bohrer 
1896;  John  A.  Fulwiler,   1868;  Frank  Gillespie,   1890;   Homer  W.   Hall 
1892;  Lester  H.  Martin,  1903;  Oscar  G.  Hoose,  1914;  Frank  O.  Hanson 
1903;  Louis  C.  Hay,  1887;  C.  B.  Hughes,  1900;  H.  A.  Iungerich,  1910 
Charles  P.  Kane,  1914;  Thomas  Kennedy,  1886;  Kaywin  Kennedy,  1920 
W.  H.  Kerrick,  1892;  Sylvan  L.  Kupfer,  1915;  W.  Blake  Leach,   1902 
Huber  Light,  1902;  James  A.  Light,  1908;  John  T.  Lillard,  1874;  Robert 
E.  Williams,  1886;  Sigmund  Livingston,  1894;  W.  W.  Whitmore,  1894 
Mrs.  Stella  Whitmore,   1918;  James  L.   Loar,   1888;  Aurelius  M.  Miller 
1903;  John  J.  Morrissey,  1880;  John  M.  Sullivan,  1906;  Adlai  H.  Rust 
1914;  J.  B.  Murphy,  1920;  H.  M.  Murray,  1890;  M.  M.  Morrissey,  1905 
Edmund  O'Connell,  1876;  R.  M.  O'Connell,  1910;  E.  W.  Oglevee,  1900 
B.  A.  Franklin,  1902;  A.  W.  Peasley,  1888;  Charles  M.  Peirce,  1889;  H.  I 
Pratt,  1912;  R.  J.  Heffernan,  1913;  Roy  Ramseyer,  1918;  W.  C.  Radliff 
1914 ;  Calvin  Rayburn,  1879 ;  Harry  E.  Riddle,  1915 ;  James  C.  Riley,  1899 
H.  A.  Rodee,  1912;  D.  J.  Sammon,  1895;  Hal  M.  Stone,  1900;  George  F 
Dick,    1909;    Edward   W.   Sutherland,    1898;   Wayne   C.    Townley,    1920 
Thomas  S.  Weldon,  1909;  John  F.  Wight,  1885;  Charles  I.  Will,   1892 
Charles  A.   Zweng,   1912;   Loren  Lewis,   1918;   Harold  M.   Hulse,    1920 
Claude  Kitchell,   1921;   Chalmer  C.  Taylor,   1920;   Maurice  Stern,   1921 
Herbert  M.  Livingston,  1921 ;  Horatio  G.  Bent ;  Horatio  C.  Bent ;  Spencer 
Ewing;  Birney  F.  Fleming;  George  K.  Foster;  Howard  Rhen,  Hubert  J. 
Thompson. 


CHAPTER  XXI. 


MEDICAL  PROFESSION. 


TREATMENT  OF  PIONEER  SICK— FIRST  DOCTORS — MEDICAL  SOCIETY  ORGANIZED 
—EARLY  MEMBERS— rHYSICIANS  AND  SURGEONS  OF  FORMER  YEARS^- 
PRESENT  MEMBERS  OF  COUNTY  MEDICAL  SOCIETY'— PHYSICIANS  IN  WORLD 
WAR. 

In  the  very  early  times  of  the  county,  the  settlers  had  to  do  without 
the  services  of  a  professional  physican,  and  some  of  the  settlers  them- 
selves, especially  the  women,  developed  considerable  skill  and  perhaps  some 
science  in  the  matter  of  treating  the  common  ailments  to  which  the  flesh 
is  heir.  Aunt  Jane  Hendrix  and  Aunt  Ann  Dawson  were  women  of  this 
kind.  Mrs.  Gardner  Randolph  was  another.  Their  materia  medica  was  of 
simple  proportions ;  sweating  and  the  use  of  native  herbs  were  their  main 
reliance. 

The  first  doctor  known  to  have  visited  the  county  was  Dr.  Herring- 
ton  of  Springfield,  who  was  called  to  Blooming  Grove  in  1825  to  attend 
a  sick  man  at  the  home  of  John  Wells  Dawson,  he  being  a  U.  S.  surveyor. 
Dr.  John  Anderson  settled  here  in  1833,  Dr.  Thomas  H.  Haines  soon  after- 
ward, Dr.  John  F.  Henry  in  1835,  Dr.  David  Wheeler  in  1836.  According 
to  some  authorities  among  the  early  settlers,  Dr.  Wheeler  came  even 
before  Dr.  Anderson ;  at  least  he  was  among  the  very  first  physicians  who 
located  in  the  settlement.  Dr.  Haines  died  in  1838  and  Dr.  Anderson  in 
1842,  both  believed  to  have  succumbed  to  overwork  in  the  hard  condi- 
tions and  much  sickness  of  the  time.  Dr.  Wheeler  lived  to  the  age  of  89 
and  died  at  Waynesville.  Dr.  Henry  removed  to  Burlington,  Iowa.  Dr. 
Jarvis  Gaylord  and  Dr.  E.  M.  Colburn  were  other  early  physicians  who 

267 


268  History  of  McLean  County 

remained  in  McLean  County  only  a  few  years.  Dr.  Garrett  Elkin  lived 
here  from  1845  to  1853. 

The  McLean  County  Medical  Society  was  organized  in  1854,  with 
the  following  as  its  first  officers:  President,  Dr.  A.  H.  Luce;  vice-presi- 
dent, Dr.  H.  Noble;  corresponding  secretary,  Dr.  E.  R.  Roe;  recording 
secretary,  Dr.  W.  A.  Elder;  treasurer,  Dr.  T.  P.  Rogers.  The  society  con- 
tinued from  that  time  until  the  present,  and  has  never  neglected  to  hold 
occasional  meetings  and  keep  up  its  organization. 

The  pioneer  physician  was  a  man  of  strong  type,  mentally  and  physi- 
cally, for  he  could  not  have  practiced  his  profession  under  the  trying 
conditions  of  that  time  unless  he  had  been  strong.  The  last  survivor  of 
the  charter  members  of  the  medical  society  was  Dr.  Charles  R.  Parke, 
who  wrote  a  history  of  the  society  which  was  published  in  1905.  Dr. 
Parke  graduated  from  the  medical  department  of  the  University  of  Penn- 
sylvania in  1848,  the  same  year  went  overland  to  California,  came  to 
Bloomington  in  1852,  was  surgeon  in  the  Russian  army  1855-56,  returned 
to  Bloomington  in  1857  and  remained  here  until  1902,  when  he  retired 
and  removed  to  Louisville,  where  he  died.  He  was  surgeon-in-chief  of 
St.  Joseph's  Hospital  for  twenty  years. 

The  McLean  County  Medical  Society  celebrated  its  golden  or  fiftieth 
anniversary  with  a  banquet  at  the  Illinois  Hotel  in  Bloomington  on  April 
7,  1904,  at  which  there  were  present  about  50  members  and  former  mem- 
bers and  their  families.  Among  the  guests  of  honor  was  Dr.  Charles  R. 
Parke,  one  of  the  charter  members  and  the  eighth  president,  who  came 
from  his  retirement  in  Louisville  to  be  present  on  this  occasion.  There 
were  visitors  from  many  cities.  Some  brief  statement  of  facts  about  the 
more  prominent  members  of  the  society  during  its  long  years  of  history, 
most  of  whom  have  passed  on  or  have  retired,  may  be  made  at  follows: 

Dr.  S.  T.  Anderson,  graduate  of  Rush,  located  here  in  1881  and  was 
a  prominent  practitioner  until  his  death  several  years  ago. 

Dr.  T.  W.  Bath,  born  in  Wales,  located  first  in  Normal  and  then  went 
to  the  Philippine  Islands  as  an  army  surgeon.  After  again  locating  here 
he  practiced  several  years,  then  departed  for  the  far  west. 

Dr.  A.  T.  Barnes  was  a  superintendent  of  the  Illinois  Hospital  for  In- 
sane at  Anna  before  coming  to  McLean  County;  he  was  president  of  the 
County  Medical  Society,  and  prominent  Republican  politician  in  addition 


History  of  McLean  County  269 

to  be  a  doctor;  he  was  appointed  postmaster  of  Bloomington  and  served 
as  such  until  shortly  before  his  death. 

Dr.  H.  F.  Ballard,  graduate  of  Rush,  practiced  in  Chenoa  and 
Cooksville. 

Dr.  N.  B.  Cole  located  in  Bloomington  in  1865,  was  physician  at  the 
Soldiers  Orphans'  Home  until  shortly  before  his  removal  in  1896  to  Phoe- 
nix, Ariz.,  where  he  died  several  years  later. 

Dr.  E.  K.  Crothers  located  in  Bloomington  in  1850  and  was  a  leading 
physician  until  his  death  in  1893.  He  was  the  father  of  Rachel  Crothers, 
the  famous  playwright. 

Dr.  C.  J.  Corley,  graduate  of  Rush  Medical  College,  located  here  in 
1884  and  practiced  with  success  until  his  death  in  1898. 

Dr.  William  Cromwell,  graduate  of  University  of  Maryland,  located 
here  in  1858,  was  appointed  postmaster  of  Bloomington  in  1867  and  served 
four  years.    Died  in  1874. 

Dr.  Henry  Conklin  was  a  physician  in  this  county  between  1864  and 
1888,  practicing  in  both  Bloomington  and  Hudson. 

Dr.  Samuel  L.  Chapin,  native  of  DeWitt  County,  graduate  of  Jeffer- 
son Medical  College,  practiced  in  Holder  and  Saybrook  between  1875  and 
1904.  On  Aug.  18  of  the  latter  year  he  was  murdered  by  an  insane  man 
as  he  was  returning  to  his  office. 

Dr.  J.  E.  Covey,  born  near  Leroy,  graduated  from  Rush,  spent  five 
months  in  Germany,  and  practiced  in  Bloomington  from  1904  to  1907, 
when  he  died. 

Dr.  A.  T.  Darrah,  native  of  Ohio,  graduated  from  Rush  in  1865,  and 
was  located  in  Bloomington  from  1883  until  his  death  in  1889.  He  was 
prominent  in  Masonry,  and  the  father  of  Delmar  D.  Darrah,  afterward 
Grand  Master  of  the  Grand  Lodge  of  Masons  in  Illinois. 

Dr.  W.  A.  Elder,  prominent  practitioner  in  Bloomington  from  1851 
until  his  death  in  1895. 

Dr.  F.  H.  Godfrey,  graduate  of  Miami  Medical  College,  practiced  in 
Bellflower,  and  in  1890  came  to  Bloomington,  where  he  practiced  until  his 
death.    Served  many  years  on  the  city  board  of  health. 

Dr.  William  E.  Guthrie,  one  of  the  eminent  surgeons  of  his  time, 
served  as  chief  surgeon  for  Lake  Erie  and  the  Chicago  &  Alton  Railroads ; 
was  on  staffs  of  St.  Joseph's  and  Brokaw  Hospitals  and  devoted  himself 
exclusively  to  surgery  from  1900  to  the  time  of  his  death. 


270  History  of  McLean  County 

Dr.  John  Haig,  graduate  of  Miami  Medical  College,  lived  and  prac- 
ticed at  Leroy  for  many  years  and  served  as  postmaster  for  several  years. 

Dr.  William  Hill,  native  of  Ohio,  surgeon  48th  Illinois  Regiment  in 
Civil  War ;  located  in  Bloomington  at  close  of  war  and  practiced  here  until 
time  of  his  death. 

Dr.  Silas  Hubbard,  native  of  New  York,  graduate  of  Castleton  Medi- 
cal College,  Vermont;  practiced  at  Hudson  from  1858  to  1900,  when  he 
removed  to  East  Aurora,  N.  Y.,  to  be  with  his  son,  Elbert  Hubbard,  the 
famous  writer.    Dr.  Hubbard  and  his  son  are  both  deceased. 

Dr.  M.  D.  Hull,  graduate  of  Louisville  Medical  College,  practiced  at 
Arrowsmith  for  many  years,  and  after  1894  in  Bloomington,  until  his 
death. 

Dr.  F.  0.  Jackman,  graduate  of  Northwestern  University  Medical  Col- 
lege, served  on  staffs  of  insane  hospitals  at  Topeka,  Jacksonville,  and  Mt. 
Pleasant,  Iowa ;  now  retired,  living  in  Bloomington. 

Dr.  Jehu  Little,  native  of  Indiana ;  graduate  of  Belleville  Medical  Col- 
lege; served  as  surgeon  in  Civil  War;  was  prisoner  in  Libby  Prison;  prac- 
ticed in  Leroy  and  Bloomington  from  1866  to  death ;  served  as  president, 
secretary  and  treasurer  of  McLean  County  Medical  Society. 

Dr.  A.  H.  Luce  located  in  Bloomington  1842  and  practiced  until  his 
death  in  1893.  Was  charter  member  and  first  president  of  County  Medi- 
cal Society. 

Dr.  Ernest  Mammen,  graduate  of  Rush,  studied  in  Europe  on  several 
occasions ;  served  as  county  physician ;  practiced  surgery  many  years  in 
Bloomington;  now  in  China  delivering  lectures  at  medical  colleges. 

Dr.  D.  0.  Moore,  native  of  Ohio,  practiced  in  Bloomington  from  1863 
until  his  death  in  1901. 

Dr.  Nelson  K.  McCormick,  graduate  of  Chicago  Medical;  located  in 
Normal  in  1889 ;  served  as  physician  at  Soldiers  Orphans'  home ;  was  chief 
of  staff  and  one  of  the  main  promoters  of  Brokaw  Hospital ;  now  deceased. 

Dr.  Harrison  Noble,  graduate  of  Ohio  Medical  and  Rush,  located  in 
McLean  County  in  1832;  was  member  of  Legislature  in  1864-65;  died  in 
1870. 

Dr.  C.  T.  Orner,  located  in  Saybrook  in  1871 ;  Bloomington  in  1884, 
until  his  death ;  was  on  staff  St.  Joseph's  Hospital. 

Dr.  F.  J.  Parkhurst,  graduate  of  Chicago  Medical ;  located  in  Danvers ; 
conducted  Willow  Bark  Institute  until  his  death  in  1902. 


History  of  McLean  County  271 

Dr.  Thomas  P.  Rogers  came  from  Philadelphia,  located  in  Woodford 
County,  then  in  Bloomington;  elected  to  Legislature  1872-80;  is  now 
deceased. 

Dr.  E.  R.  Roe,  located  in  Bloomington  before  Civil  War;  served  as 
lieutenant-colonel  in  Civil  War;  later  was  U.  S.  marshal  in  southern  Illi- 
nois ;  died  1893. 

Dr.  R.  W.  Shinn,  graduate  of  Rush,  practiced  many  years  in  Chenoa. 

Dr.  T.  E.  Stahl,  practiced  in  Bloomington  and  Mackinaw,  1874-87, 
and  died  in  Mackinaw  in  1887. 

Dr.  L.  H.  Skaggs,  located  in  Ellsworth  in  1872;  served  as  assistant 
surgeon  of  94th  Illinois  in  Civil  War. 

Dr.  George  R.  Smith,  graduate  of  Chicago  Medical;  began  practice  in 
Bloomington  1887  and  continued  to  his  death. 

Dr.  G.  M.  Smith,  graduate  of  Cleveland  Medical,  came  to  Blooming- 
ton in  1883 ;  elected  mayor  1894 ;  died  in  November,  1897. 

Dr.  Lee  Smith,  graduate  of  Rush  Medical ;  served  as  surgeon  in  charge 
of  army  hospital  in  Washington,  1862-63 ;  practiced  in  Bloomington  after- 
ward until  his  death. 

Dr.  A.  E.  Stewart,  native  of  McLean  County ;  graduate  of  Jefferson 
Medical ;  was  assistant  surgeon  94th  Illinois ;  elected  to  Legislature  1872- 
76;  died  1899. 

Dr.  R.  Wunderlich,  graduate  of  Tubingen  College,  Germany;  prac- 
ticed in  Germany  and  Chili;  came  to  Bloomington  1868;  died  in  February, 
1893. 

Dr.  Thomas  F.  Worrell,  graduated  from  Louisville  Medical,  located 
in  Bloomington  in  1850;  died  in  September,  1887. 

Dr.  J.  M.  Waters,  graduate  of  Jefferson;  practised  in  Normal  and 
later  in  Gibson  City,  1868-79. 

Dr.  J.  L.  White,  graduate  of  Harvard  Medical  College,  located  in 
Jerseyville  and  later  in  Memphis ;  came  to  Bloomington  in  1870 ;  served 
as  member  of  Legislature  1894-96;  died  in  1902.  Was  head  of  staff  of 
St.  Joseph's  Hospital  for  many  years. 

A  list  of  many  of  the  other  prominent  physicians  and  surgeons  of 
McLean  County  of  former  years  who  have  either  died  or  removed  to  dis- 
tant places  would  include  the  following: 

Dr.  Charles  Ayling,  Dr.  Paul  Allyn,  Dr.  A.  A.  Absher,  Dr.  Edwin  M. 
Adams,  Dr.  J.  C.  Adams,  Dr.  W.  J.  Ballard,  Dr.  L.  A.  Burr,  Dr.  W.  A. 


272  History  of  McLean  County 

Balcke,  Dr.  C.  0.  Burke,  Dr.  R.  R.  Burns,  Dr.  G.  W.  Bartin,  Dr.  Samuel 
Bane,  Dr.  John  Y.  Bonnett,  Dr.  Robert  D.  Bradley,  Dr.  C.  R.  Carr,  Dr. 
Charles  Carle,  Dr.  Howard  C.  Crist,  Dr.  D.  0.  Crist,  Dr.  H.  S.  Chapin,  Dr. 
W.  R.  Chew,  Dr.  David  L.  Crist,  Dr.  H.  M.  Dally,  Dr.  D.  T.  Douglas,  Dr. 
R.  W.  Dunlap,  Dr.  G.  D.  Elder,  Dr.  George  W.  Elder,  Dr.  Charles  S.  Elder, 
Dr.  J.  R.  Freese,  Dr.  D.  M.  Foster,  Dr.  T.  D.  Fisher,  Dr.  Elias  Grey,  Dr.  C. 
Judson  Gill,  Dr.  Daniel  0.  Golding,  Dr.  R.  Earl  Gordon,  Dr.  D.  0.  D.  Haer- 
ing,  Dr.  T.  T.  Haering,  Dr.  J.  W.  Hall,  Dr.  C.  E.  Hayward,  Dr.  Z.  L.  Hoover, 
Dr.  Edward  P.  G.  Holderness,  Dr.  Lewis  J.  Hammers,  Dr.  William  Hal- 
lam,  Dr.  N.  F.  Jordan,  Dr.  E.  B.  Johnson,  Dr.  Albert  G.  Jones,  Dr.  M.  S. 
Kopf,  Dr.  S.  L.  Kerr,  Dr.  J.  E.  Kunkler,  Dr.  William  J.  Kirk,  Dr.  L.  S. 
Keith,  Dr.  0.  A.  Kell,  Dr.  A.  F.  Kaeser,  Dr.  T.  W.  Keys,  Dr.  James  S. 
Lackey,  Dr.  Hiram  C.  Luce,  Dr.  Julius  Lehman,  Dr.  R.  G.  Laughlin,  Dr. 
Thomas  R.  Mullen,  Dr.  James  Montgomery,  Dr.  John  P.  Moore,  Dr.  George 
W.  Mason,  Dr.  J.  M.  Miller,  Dr.  D.  H.  McFarland,  Dr.  William  Mcintosh, 
Dr.  John  F.  McKenzie,  Dr.  D.  H.  Nusbaum,  Dr.  Stephen  W.  Noble,  Dr. 
Harvey  Parkhurst,  Dr.  J.  R.  Peirce,  Dr.  A.  R.  Penniman,  Dr.  W.  L.  Pol- 
lock, Dr.  William  Patch,  Dr.  Ernest  S.  Reedy,  Dr.  W.  H.  Reedy,  Dr.  J.  W. 
Read,  Dr.  S.  L.  Stevens,  Dr.  Charles  C.  Sater,  Dr.  J.  M.  Suggett,  Dr.  J.  H. 
Stein,  Dr.  E.  M.  Stretch,  Dr.  E.  E.  Sargent,  Dr.  L.  E.  Spear,  Dr.  John 
Sweeney,  Dr.  George  W.  Stipp,  Dr.  Frank  A.  Stubblefield,  Dr.  John  A.  Tut- 
hill,  Dr.  E.  M.  K.  Taylor,  Dr.  A.  P.  Tenney,  Dr.  Thomas  M.  Taylor,  Dr. 
Nathaniel  P.  Ward,  Dr.  H.  A.  Winter,  Dr.  M.  C.  Wilson,  Dr.  S.  B.  Wright, 
Dr.  J.  W.  Waters. 

Dr.  W.  H.  Gardner,  one  of  the  younger  physicians  of  the  city,  carried 
on  his  practice  for  several  years  in  connection  with  the  Kelso  Sanitarium, 
and  then  went  into  military  service  in  the  World  War.  He  made  a  fine 
record,  taking  part  in  the  operations  of  the  Argonne.  After  the  war  he 
gave  up  practice  and  engaged  in  business  with  his  father  and  brothers. 

The  names  of  the  physicians  and  surgeons  who  are  members  of  the 
McLean  County  Medical  Society  the  present  year  (1923)  are  as  follows: 

Bloomington — Drs.  F.  W.  Brian,  E.  L.  Brown,  C.  E.  Chapin,  Bernice 
Curry,  E.  G.  Covington,  T.  D.  Cantrell,  L.  B.  Cavins,  A.  J.  Casner,  J.  J. 
Condon,  G.  M.  Cline,  Frank  Deneen,  H.  W.  Elder,  J.  Norman  Elliott,  J.  H. 
Fenelon,  Ralph  A.  Fox,  A.  R.  Freeman,  J.  W.  Fulwiler,  A.  L.  Fox,  F.  C. 
Fisher,  H.  W.  Grote,  W.  W.  Gailey,  Paul  E.  Greenleaf,  M.  V.  Gunn,  F.  H. 
Henderson,  E.  B.  Hart,  J.  K.  P.  Hawks,  H.  L.  Howell,  L.  L.  Erwin,  George 


History  of  McLean  County  273 

B.  Kelso,  Alvin  Keller,  Ralph  R.  Loar,  A.  W.  Meyer,  J.  C.  McNutt,  R.  N. 
Noble,  W.  E.  Neiberger,  Ralph  P.  Peairs,  D.  D.  Raber,  0.  M.  Rhodes,  A.  E. 
Rogers,  G.  A.  Sloan,  E.  P.  Sloan,  0.  J.  Sloan,  J.  Whitefield  Smith,  A.  C. 
Schoch,  F.  C.  Vandervort,  F.  J.  Welch,  H.  W.  Wellmerling,  Harold  R.  Wat- 
kins,  J.  L.  Yolton,  Rhoda  G.  Yolton,  W.  M.  Young,  E.  G.  Weiland,  J.  P. 
Noble,  C.  M.  Noble,  Eliza  Hyndman,  A.  L.  Fox,  Harlan  H.  Hart,  A.  L. 
Chapman. 

Normal — Drs.  Florence  Ames,  Ferd  C.  McCormick,  W.  L.  Penniman. 

Lexington — Drs.  Martha  Bull,  L.  J.  Hammers. 

Bellflower — Dr.  J.  H.  Copenhaver. 

Danvers — Drs.  W.  A.  Coss,  E.  M.  Minnick,  B.  0.  Swinehart. 

Colfax— Drs.  H.  W.  Langstaff,  H.  E.  Pinkerton. 

Heyworth — Drs.  Frank  Turner,  F.  L.  Wakefield. 

Cropsey — Dr.  H.  C.  Cantle. 

Stanford— Dr.  S.  T.  Cavins. 

Chenoa — Dr.  C.  R.  Kerr. 

Saybrook — Dr.  James  Jensen. 

Towanda — Dr.  P.  A.  Humphries. 

Gridley — Drs.  Thomas  Moate,  E.  M.  Adams. 

Leroy— E.  R.  May,  E.  E.  Sargent. 

Downs — Dr.  E.  C.  Williams. 

McLean— Dr.  C.  W.  Ritter. 

Elsewhere — Dr.  E.  S.  Horine,  Maywood,  111. ;  0.  F.  May,  Fort  Bayard, 
N.  Mex. ;  V.  D.  Thomas,  Greystone  Park,  N.  J. ;  John  Zeigler,  Farmer  City. 

The  list  of  McLean  County  physicians  who  saw  active  service  in  the 
army  or  navy  during  the  World  War  was  as  follows:  Dr.  Harry  Howell, 
Dr.  R.  A.  Noble,  Dr.  Wilfred  Gardner,  Dr.  A.  E.  Rogers,  Dr.  J.  W.  Wallis, 
Dr.  T.  D.  Cantrell,  Dr.  J.  K.  P.  Hawks,  Dr.  L.  B.  Cavins,  Dr.  Frank  Sayers, 
Dr.  Fred  Brian,  Dr.  F.  C.  Vandervort,  Dr.  G.  H.  Galford,  Dr.  W.  W.  Gailey, 
Dr.  L.  L.  Irwin,  Dr.  A.  E.  Behrendt,  Dr.  A.  J.  Casner,  Dr.  J.  L.  Yolton, 
Dr.  H.  A.  Elder,  Dr.  W.  L.  Penniman,  Dr.  D.  D.  Raber,  Dr.  E.  R.  Hermann 
(Stanford),  Dr.  A.  R.  Freeman,  Dr.  Paul  Greenleaf,  Dr.  C.  E.  Schultz, 
Dr.  Frank  Deneen,  Dr.  L.  0.  Thompson  (LeRoy),  Dr.  0.  A.  Coss,  Arrow- 
smith. 

The  Board  of  Examiners  in  McLean  County  were  as  follows: 

Drs.  F.  C.  Vandervort,  E.  Mammen,  J.  L.  Yolton,  F.  H.  Godfrey,  J.  H. 
Fenelon,  Frank  F.  Fisher,  William  Young,  Harry  L.  Howell,  Charles  E. 
Chapin. 

(16) 


274 


History  of  McLean  County 


The  Exemption  Board  Examiners: 

Drs.  N.  E.  Nieberger,  E.  P.  Sloan,  E.  B.  Hart,  W.  E.  Gutherie,  R.  D. 
Fox,  G.  B.  Kelso  and  J.  Whitefield  Smith. 

In  the  last  15  years,  Bloomington  has  become  the  location  of  several 
physicians  of  the  newer  schools  of  practice.  There  are  now  eight  dif- 
ferent practitioners  of  the  osteopathic  method,  and  they  have  become 
recognized  among  the  substantial  professional  class  of  the  city.  The 
names  of  the  osteopaths  listed  in  the  1923  directory  were  Warren  E. 
Atkins,  Mrs.  Annie  B.  Bunn,  Ethel  L.  Burner,  John  D.  Cunningham, 
Daugherty  &  Mantle,  Charles  P.  Hanson  and  Eugene  Pitts. 

Chiropractors  are  another  class  of  practitioners  who  have  become 
established  in  the  county  seat,  there  being  listed  in  1923  the  following: 
Frank  J.  Esper,  V.  Emil  Lambeau,  E.  Russell  Scott,  Alfred  T.  Spath. 


CHAPTER  XXII. 


COUNTY  DENTAL  SOCIETY. 


ORGANIZED  IN  1902  —  FIRST  MEETINGS  —  FIRST  OFFICERS  —  CONSTITUTION 
ADOPTED— LIST  OF  OFFICERS— DEATHS— TWO  STATE  CONVENTIONS  HELD 
HERE. 

The  organization  of  dentists  of  McLean  County  is  of  comparatively 
recent  date.  It  was  on  Oct.  10,  1902,  that  a  meeting  of  dentists  was  called 
at  the  rooms  of  the  Business  Men's  Association,  with  the  following  pres- 
ent: F.  H.  Mcintosh,  J.  M.  Crigler,  J.  S.  Reece,  J.  H.  Campbell,  W.  H. 
Land,  G.  D.  Sitherwood,  0.  J.  Jarrett,  M.  D.  Young,  E.  B.  Coen,  J.  G. 
Besley,  J.  W.  Kasbeer,  B.  M.  VanDervoort,  C.  P.  Holland  and  A.  J.  Elmer. 
Dr.  F.  H.  Mcintosh  was  chosen  as  temporary  chairman  and  B.  M.  Van- 
Dervoort as  temporary  secretary.  It  was  voted  to  form  the  McLean 
County  Dental  Society,  and  the  following  committee  was  appointed  to 
draw  up  constitution  and  by-laws:  A.  J.  Elmer,  G.  D.  Sitherwood  and 
J.  H.  Campbell.  Every  practicing  dentist  in  McLean  County  was  to  be 
invited  to  join  the  new  society. 

At  the  second  meeting,  held  one  week  later,  the  following  dentists 
in  addition  to  those  present  at  the  first  meeting,  expressed  in  person  or 
by  letter  their  willingness  to  join  the  society:  Harry  Stevenson,  H.  C. 
Rodenhauser,  J.  B.  Brown,  B.  Henline,  P.  H.  Geiger,  C.  D.  Eaton,  0.  R. 
Griffith,  J.  M.  Gallahugh  of  Chenoa,  D.  M.  Field  of  Danvers,  J.  T.  Scott, 
of  Saybrook,  A.  T.  Hanson  of  Lexington,  B.  L.  Stevens  of  Lexington,  D. 
M.  Field  of  Danvers,  A.  M.  Wilkes  of  Leroy. 

The  following  were  the  first  permanent  set  of  officers  elected :  Presi- 
dent, F.  H.  Mcintosh;  vice-president,  J.  H.  Campbell;  secretary,  B.  M. 

275 


276  History  of  McLean  County 

VanDervoort;  treasurer,  A.  M.  Field  of  Danvers.  Executive  committee, 
G.  D.  Sitherwood  and  0.  J.  Jarret  of  Bloomington,  J.  S.  Reece  of  Normal. 
Board  of  censors,  J.  M.  Crigler  and  J.  B.  Brown  of  Bloomington,  J.  M. 
Gallahugh  of  Chenoa. 

The  first  death  among  the  members  of  the  society  was  noted  in  the 
proceedings  of  Nov.  21,  1902,  when  resolutions  on  the  death  of  Dr.  0.  T. 
Hansen  of  Lexington  were  passed. 

The  society  held  its  first  banquet  at  the  new  Illinois  Hotel  on  Dec.  15, 
1902,  when  a  fine  dinner  was  followed  with  a  program  of  toasts,  including 
speeches  by  Dr.  Kasbeer,  Dr.  Sitherwood,  Dr.  VanDervoort,  Dr.  Coen,  Dr. 
Crigler  and  Dr.  Jarrett. 

At  the  meeting  held  on  Sept.  12,  1904,  this  society  adopted  the  con- 
stitution of  the  state  society  and  became  affiliated  with  the  state  or- 
ganization. 

In  October,  1903,  the  following  officers  were  chosen:  President,  G. 
D.  Sitherwood;  vice-president,  J.  W.  Kasbeer;  secretary,  B.  M.  VanDer- 
voort; treasurer,  J.  B.  Brown.  In  the  following  year,  Dr.  VanDervoort 
was  chosen  president;  J.  W.  Crigler,  vice-president;  J.  S.  Reece,  secre- 
tary, and  M.  D.  Young,  treasurer. 

Soon  after  the  society  was  organized,  members  from  outside  coun- 
ties were  admitted.  At  the  third  annual  banquet,  responses  tp  toasts 
were  made  by  Dr.  Piper  of  Pontiac,  Dr.  Kasbeer,  Dr.  Sitherwood,  Dr. 
Brown  and  Dr.  Crigler. 

At  the  election  of  1905,  J.  B.  Brown  was  elected  president;  P.  A. 
Pyper  of  Pontiac,  vice-president;  J.  S.  Reece,  secretary,  and  M.  D.  Young 
treasurer.    The  officers  in  various  succeeding  years  were  as  follows: 

1906 — J.  W.  Kasbeer,  president ;  O.  J.  Jarrett,  vice-president ;  S.  B. 
Powers,  secretary;  J.  G.  Beesley,  treasurer. 

1907 — 0.  J.  Jarrett,  president;  M.  D.  Young,  vice-president;  G.  D. 
Sitherwood,  secretary;  R.  J.  Brady,  treasurer. 

1908 — P.  A.  Pyper,  president;  J.  S.  Reece,  vice-president;  A.  J.  El- 
mer, secretary;  R.  J.  Brady,  treasurer. 

1909 — J.  S.  Reece,  president;  J.  E.  Long,  vice-president;  T.  H.  Smith, 
secretary;  J.  B.  Stannard,  treasurer. 

1910 — J.  R.  Rayburn,  president;  T.  H.  Smith,  vice-president;  H.  G. 
McCormick,  secretary;  0.  J.  Jarrett,  treasurer. 


History  of  McLean  County  277 

1911 — W.  H.  Land,  president;  W.  L.  Meyer,  vice-president;  H.  G. 
McCormick,  secretary;  0.  J.  Jarrett,  treasurer. 

1912 — N.  B.  Newsome,  president;  George  T.  Moore,  vice-president; 
J.  W.  Kasbeer,  secretary;  J.  S.  Reese,  treasurer. 

1913 — A.  M.  Wilkes,  president;  J.  B.  Brown,  vice-president;  J.  W. 
Kasbeer,  secretary-treasurer. 

1914 — H.  G.  McCormick,  -president;  J.  F.  Mohan,  vice-president;  J. 
W.  Kasbeer,  secretary-treasurer. 

1915 — J.  F.  Mohan,  president;  E.  R.  Weart,  vice-president;  A.  B.  Lee, 
secretary-treasurer. 

1916 — J.  S.  Reece,  president;  A.  M.  Wilcox,  vice-president;  H.  C. 
Rodenhauser,  secretary-treasurer. 

1917  and  1918,  same  officers  as  above. 

1919-1920 — B.  L.  Stevens,  president;  A.  D.  Shaffer,  secretary- 
treasurer. 

1921 — George  T.  Moore,  president;  J.  F.  Mohan,  vice-president;  J.  E. 
Willman,  secretary-treasurer. 

1922 — J.  E.  Willman,  president;  C.  G.  D.  Shaddle,  vice-president; 
Richard  McLean,  secretary-treasurer. 

In  the  course  of  its  history,  the  society  has  been  called  upon  to  mourn 
the  death  -of  some  of  its  original  members.  Dr.  Elmer  died  in  1909,  Dr. 
Harry  Stevenson  in  the  same  year;  Dr.  Brown  in  1914;  Dr.  Mcintosh, 
the  first  president,  in  1923. 

Twice  has  the  McLean  County  Society  entertained  the  State  Dental 
Society.  The  first  time  was  in  May,  1903,  and  the  second  time  in  May, 
1918.     On  both  occasions  very  successful  conventions  were  held. 


CHAPTER  XXIII. 


THE  PRESS. 


FIRST  NEWSPAPER — BLOOMINGTON  OBSERVER — THE  PANTAGRAPH— DAILY  BUL- 
LETIN— OTHER  NEWSPAPERS — LABOR  ORGANS — NEWSPAPERS  IN  THE 
COUNTY— OTHER  WEEKLY  AND  MONTHLY  PUBLICATIONS — SCHOOL  PERIOD- 
ICALS. 

From  the  very  beginning  of  McLean  County,  the  people  have  been 
intelligent  and  well  informed  in  the  current  events  of  the  day.  This  has 
been  due  largely  to  the  fact  that  they  have  supported  a  public  press  which 
has  at  all  times  been  marked  by  ability  of  editing  and  comprehensiveness 
of  their  scope.  The  county  was  but  six  years  old  when  the  first  newspaper 
made  its  appearance  in  the  form  of  the  Bloomington  Observer,  which  is 
believed  to  have  been  the  pioneer  newspaper  not  alone  of  this  county  but 
of  the  central  part  of  the  state.  Only  a  very  few  copies  of  this  paper  are 
extant,  but  one  of  these  is  framed  and  hangs  on  the  walls  of  the  Panta- 
graph  office  at  the  present  time,  dated  June  2,  1838.  The  caption  says 
that  the  paper  is  "published  every  Saturday  by  J.  W.  Fell;  office  in  the 
white  house  at  the  corner  of  Madison  and  Grove  Streets."  The  first  issue 
of  the  Observer  was  on  Jan  14,  1837.  William  Hill  was  editor,  while  the 
printing  material  was  owned  jointly  by  James  Allin,  Jesse  Fell  and  A. 
Gridley.  After  a  year,  Mr.  Fell  became  editor  and  publisher.  He  contin- 
ued it  until  about  June,  1839,  when  owing  to  hard  times  the  paper  sus- 
pended and  no  other  was  published  in  Bloomington  until  about  1846, 
when  Charles  P.  Merriman  established  the  Western  Whig,  a  weekly. 
After  various  changes  from  that  time  to  1851,  the  paper  became  the 
property  of  C.  P.  Merriman  and  J.  W.  Fell,  and  a  year  later  the  name  was 

278 


History  of  McLean  County  279 

changed  to  the  Pantagraph,  meaning  "write  all  things."  The  paper  lived 
through  several  changes  in  name  and  proprietorship,  one  of  the  names 
being  the  Intelligencer.  Its  office  was  first  on  Front  Street,  then  on 
Main,  and  there  it  was  burned  out  in  the  big  fire  of  Oct.  16,  1855,  when 
the  whole  block  bounded  by  Washington,  Center,  Front  and  Main  was 
consumed.  After  this  the  remnants  of  the  office  were  bought  by  William 
E.  Foots,  a  young  printer  from  Keesville,  N.  Y.  He  built  up  a  good 
plant  and  increased  the  prestige  of  the  paper.  The  first  issue  of  the 
Daily  Pantagraph  was  on  Feb.  23,  1857,  William  R.  McCracken  being 
local  editor.  In  1860,  Mr.  Foote  sold  out  to  A.  J.  Merriman,  nephew  of 
C.  P.  Merriman.  Different  men  connected  with  the  editorship  and  publi- 
cation of  the  paper  from  that  time  to  1868  were:  A.  J.  Merriman,  F.  J. 
Briggs,  and  the  firm  of  Steele,  Carpenter  &  Briggs;  John  S.  Scibird  and 
Orin  Watters,  Thaddeus  B.  Packard.  In  1868  the  paper  came  under  the 
management  of  Jesse  W.  Fell,  William  0.  Davis  and  James  P.  Taylor,  con- 
tinuing to  1871,  when  Mr.  Davis  become  sole  proprietor.  Mr.  Davis  con- 
tinued in  sole  charge  until  the  company  was  incorporated  under  the  title 
of  the  Daily  Pantagraph,  with  H.  0.  Davis,  son  of  W.  0.  Davis,  as  presi- 
dent, C.  C.  Marquis  secretary  and  treasurer.  The  other  owners  of  the 
stock  of  the  corporation  were  the  two  daughters  of  W.  0.  Davis,  Mrs. 
Helen  Stevenson  and  Mrs.  Jessie  F.  Merwin.  Among  the  men  who  served 
as  editor  of  the  Pantagraph  during  these  years  were  Edward  J.  Lewis, 
William  E.  Foote,  Henry  B.  Norton,  Thomas  Moore,  J.  H.  Burnham,  J.  F. 
Diggs,  B.  F.  Brigg,  Edward  R.  Roe,  William  R.  McCracken,  William  Mc- 
Cambridge,  Daniel  A.  Ray,  Joseph  B.  Bates,  Roy  H.  Crihfield  and  Jacob 
L.  Hasbrouck.  The  Pantagraph  was  Whig  in  politics  until  the  organiza- 
tion of  the  Republican  party,  since  which  time  it  adhered  to  that  party, 
with  a  decidedly  independent  attitude  in  political  matters.  The  daily  edi- 
tion continued  with  slight  interruptions  from  1857,  and  for  many  years 
the  weekly  was  also  published,  but  for  the  last  ten  years,  owing  to  the 
circulation  of  the  daily  extending  to  the  rural  districts  since  rural  free 
delivery  came  about,  the  weekly  edition  was  dropped.  The  Pantagraph 
covers  the  news  of  the  world  with  special  attention  to  happenings  in  the 
eleven  counties  of  central  Illinois  in  which  it  circulates.  Its  circulation  is 
about  18,000. 

The  only  evening  newspaper  in  Bloomington  is  the  Daily  Bulletin, 
published  by  Braley  &  O'Donnell.     The  firm  is  composed  of  James  F. 


280  History  of  McLean  County 

O'Donnell,  the  business  manager,  and  Mrs.  Carrie  P.  Braley,  widow  of  the 
late  Theodore  A.  Braley,  who  was  for  many  years  its  editor.  The  Bulle- 
tin is  Democratic  in  politics.  It  was  founded  on  Feb.  8,  1881,  owned  by  a 
joint  stock  company  with  John  H.  Oberly  as  editor.  Matthew  T.  Scott 
shortly  afterward  acquired  a  control  of  the  stock  and  Oberly  continued  as 
editor.  Oberly  finally  removed  to  Washington,  and  in  1884  Matthew  T. 
Scott  sold  the  paper  to  Owen  Scott,  who  came  to  Bloomington  from  south- 
ern Illinois.  Mr.  Scott  continued  as  editor  until  1892,  when  he  was  elected 
to  Congress  and  sold  the  paper  to  Braley  &  O'Donnell.  The  Bulletin 
grew  in  patronage  and  prestige  under  the  present  firm,  and  finally  ab- 
sorbed its  only  evening  competitor,  the  Daily  Leader,  formerly  conducted 
by  M.  F.  Leland.  The  Bulletin  also  absorbed  the  Sunday  Eye,  a  weekly 
paper  founded  and  edited  for  many  years  by  George  L.  Hutchin  and  C.  M. 
Leek.  In  1907  the  Bulletin  bought  a  lot  on  Madison  Street  near  the  inter- 
urban  station  and  erected  there  a  modern  newspaper  plant  which  is  com- 
plete in  every  respect.  The  Bulletin  covers  the  field  thoroughly  and  issues 
the  only  Sunday  newspaper  in  McLean  County. 

The  other  newspapers  which  are  published  in  Bloomington  at  present 
are  the  Searchlight,  a  weekly  labor  paper  owned  and  published  by  the 
labor  unions ;  the  Wesleyan  Argus,  a  weekly  paper  by  the  students  of  the 
Wesleyan  University;  the  Normalite,  weekly,  published  in  Normal  by 
Clarence  Burner ;  the  Vidette,  weekly,  published  in  Normal  by  the  students 
of  the  Normal  University;  the  Bloomington  Journal,  a  weekly  published 
in  the  German  language  by  John  B.  Gummerman. 

Newspapers  by  the  dozens  have  been  published  for  short  periods  in 
Bloomington  and  McLean  County,  then  died  of  inanition  and  passed  away. 
The  Daily  Leader,  an  evening  sheet,  lived  from  1869  to  1899,  being  suc- 
cessively run  by  M.  F.  Leland,  Scibird  &  Watters,  Wilbur  F.  Crawfords, 
George  B.  Wheeler,  0.  C.  Mason,  E.  R.  Morse,  L.  A.  Cass,  Verne  McGil- 
vray,  Owen  Scott,  H.  C.  DeMotte.    It  was  finally  merged  with  the  Bulletin. 

The  Bloomington  Courier  preceded  the  Bulletin  as  a  Democratic  or- 
gan, living  from  1879  to  1881.  A  chronological  record  of  the  various 
papers  and  the  years  in  which  they  flourished  is  as  follows: 

1837,  The  Observer;  1845,  The  Register;  1846,  Western  Whig;  1848, 
Illinois  Reveille;  1851,  Bloomington  Intelligencer;  1851,  Illinois  State  Bul- 
letin; 1853,  The  Pantagraph;  1854,  Illinois  Central  Times;  1855,  National 
Flag,   Illinois   Baptist;   1856,   Illinois   Baptist;   1858,   Illinois   Statesman; 


History  of  McLean  County  281 

1863,  McLean  County  Echo;  1864,  Central  Illinois  Democrat,  Daily  Even- 
ing Democrat;  1865,  McLean  County  Journal;  1866,  Republican,  Index, 
Wesleyan;  1868,  Daily  Leader,  Democrat,  Anzeiger;  1870,  Republican,  Ad- 
vertiser, Alumni  Journal;  1872,  Banner  of  Holiness,  Trades  Review,  Real 
Estate  Journal;  1873,  Anti-monopolist,  Enterprise,  Little  Watchman,  Illi- 
nois Schoolmaster;  1874,  Sunday  Morning  Star;  1875,  The  Appeal;  1876, 
Democratic  News,  Western  Advance,  Spirit  of  the  Grange;  1877,  Sunday 
Herald,  Students'  Journal ;  1878,  Courier,  Herald  of  Health,  Sunday  Morn- 
ing Eye;  1879,  McLean  County  Press,  Bloomington  Journal;  1880,  Bric-a- 
Brac,  Through  Mail,  Daily  Mail;  1881,  Independent,  Illinois  School  Jour- 
nal Prohibitionist;  1881,  Daily  Bulletin,  The  Bee;  1884,  Odd  Fellow,  The 
Pilot;  1885,  The  Illinois  Freemason,  Weekly  Times,  Illinois  Wesleyan  Mag- 
azine; 1886,  The  Tailor;  1888,  The  Vidette,  Elite  Journal,  Greek  Oracle, 
The  Avenger;  1889,  Real  Estate  Exchange,  Public  School  Journal;  1890, 
Interstate  Herald,  Record,  Illinois  Redman,  Athenian;  1891,  Home  Circle, 
Saturday  Truth;  1892,  Index,  Normal  School  Quarterly,  Quarterly  Bulle- 
tin; 1893,  The  Chimes,  Wesleyan  Argus,  Souvenir  Echo;  1895,  Trades  Re- 
view, Watchtower,  Wesleyana;  1896,  Temperance  Pulse;  1897,  The  Owl, 
Tribune,  Aegis,  Methodist;  1898,  Home  and  School  Education,  Citizen  at 
Work;  1900,  Commonwealth;  1902  ,The  Pioneer;  1918,  Farm  Bureau  Bul- 
letin, Home  Bureau  Bulletin;  1923,  The  American  Review  (magazine). 

For  many  years  the  labor  unions  of  Bloomington  have  published  a 
weekly  paper  for  the  special  advocacy  of  their  teachings  and  the  news  of 
the  field  of  labor  from  their  own  standpoint.  This  was  formerly  called 
the  Trades  Review,  which  had  a  career  of  several  years  under  various 
managements.  At  one  time,  about  1895-97,  it  was  owned  and  edited  by 
Louis  FitzHenry,  who  is  now  the  federal  judge  of  the  Southern  Illinois 
district.  The  Trades  Review  later  was  abandoned  as  a  labor  organ,  al- 
though it  continued  to  be  published  for  some  time  under  the  management 
of  W.  A.  Luzader.  Finally,  some  ten  years  ago,  the  labor  unions  of  the 
city  formed  a  co-operative  company  to  buy  the  equipment  for  a  new  weekly 
organ,  which  was  christened  The  Searchlight.  This  paper  continues  up 
to  the  present  time  as  the  organ  of  the  local  labor  unions.  It  was  edited 
for  about  five  years  by  W.  H.  Whitehead,  and  is  now  in  direct  charge  of 
J.  H.  North.  A  board  of  censorship,  from  members  of  the  different  unions, 
has  the  general  oversight  of  the  editorial  policy. 

The  newspapers  published  in  the  various  towns  of  McLean  County  at 


282  History  of  McLean  County 

present  and  some  brief  mention  of  others  which  formerly  were  published 
and  passed  away  are  as  follows: 

Chenoa — The  Clipper-Times,  weekly,  is  the  only  paper  in  Chenoa  at 
present.  It  is  owned  and  edited  by  W.  H.  Hawthorne,  who  succeeded  the 
firm  of  Stansbury  &  Hawthorne.  Leslie  0.  Stansbury  edited  the  Clipper- 
Times  for  several  years,  Mr.  Hawthorne  being  in  charge  of  the  mechani- 
cal department.  The  Times  previously  had  been  edited  by  Beard  Bros., 
who  founded  it  in  1900.  It  was  merged  with  the  Clipper,  founded  in  1893 
by  Verne  McGilvray,  then  managed  in  succession  by  E.  S.  Pike  and  G.  E. 
Stump  until  its  merger  with  the  Times.  There  had  been  an  earlier  Times 
in  Chenoa,  founded  in  1867  and  continuing  to  1874,  managed  in  succes- 
sion by  McMurtrie  &  Dyer,  Miss  Louise  Dyer,  C.  H.  King,  C.  R.  Shore, 
C.  H.  John  and  Bovard  Bros.,  who  changed  the  name  to  Monitor.  From 
1874  it  was  published  as  the  Monitor  by  the  Bovards,  C.  H.  John  and 
Mann  Bros.,  and  the  latter  changed  the  name  to  Gazette.  It  continued- 
as  the  Gazette  to  1900,  the  different  managers  being  Mann  Bros.,  C.  H. 
Stickney,  Hedge  &  Sons,  and  E.  S.  Pike.  The  latter  merged  the  paper 
with  the  Gridley  Herald  and  Chenoa  Clipper,  which  in  turn  became  part 
of  the  present  Times-Clipper. 

Carlock — The  Tribune,  weekly,  was  published  for  ten  years  by  J.  A. 
Mace,  L.  B.  Chapman  and  A.  L.  Chapman,  discontinuing  publication  sev- 
eral years  ago,  being  absorbed  by  the  Danvers  Independent. 

Arrowsmith — The  News,  published  by  Wooley  Bros.,  Frank  Wooley 
editor,  is  published  in  connection  with  the  Saybrook  Gazette,  having  been 
run  for  15  or  20  years. 

Bellflower — John  S.  Harper  started  the  Bellflower  Journal,  which  ran 
until  about  1904  with  several  changes  of  owners. 

Colfax — The  weekly  Press  is  edited  by  H.  C.  Van  Alstine,  who  suc- 
ceeded A.  E.  Potts,  founder  of  the  paper  about  1897.  Part  of  the  edition 
is  printed  under  the  name  of  Cooksville  Enterprise  and  filled  with  Cooks- 
ville  news. 

Danvers — The  Independent,  weekly,  is  owned  and  edited  by  A.  C. 
Gingerich,  who  succeeded  H.  L.  and  Roy  P.  Stuckey,  who  started  the 
paper  in  1912.  The  Dispatch  was  the  earliest  paper  in  Danvers,  being 
founded  in  1879  by  John  S.  Popple,  who  conducted  it  until  about  1915, 
when  it  was  merged  with  the  Independent.  There  was  an  earlier  paper 
also  called  the  Independent,  which  was  founded  by  Dr.  D.  C.  Gideon  and 


History  of  McLean  County  283 

George  Bunn.  The  Commercial,  edited  by  J.  D.  Clevenger,  lived  from 
1898  for  a  few  years. 

Ellsworth — The  Tribune  was  started  in  1898  and  run  for  some  time 
by  N.  B.  Webster  and  Abbie  Benedict. 

Gridley — The  Gridley  Advance  is  printed  at  Chenoa  in  connection 
with  the  Times-Clipper,  with  A.  0.  Rupp  as  local  editor  for  Gridley.  The 
Advance  was  merged  with  the  Chenoa  paper  under  Stansbury  &  Haw- 
thorne. It  was  started  in  1893  by  C.  S.  Rowley.  The  Gridley  Monitor 
flourished  some  years  ago  under  Bovard  Bros.,  then  under  H.  0.  Hedge. 
Its  name  was  changed  to  Herald  before  it  became  part  of  the  Chenoa 
Clipper. 

Heyworth — Natural  Gas  was  formerly  the  name  of  the  weekly  pub- 
lished here  by  P.  A.  Chapman.  It  is  now  called  The  Star.  It  was  founded 
by  J.  A.  Lasswell  in  1898,  who  was  succeeded  by  A.  0.  McDowell,  who 
conducted  the  paper  until  two  years  ago,  when  Mr.  Chapman  acquired  it. 
The  Natural  Gas  was  formerly  the  Heyworth  Reporter,  having  been 
founded  in  1892  by  Mr.  Stackhouse.  The  Heyworth  Standard  flourished 
from  1881  to  1889  under  Dudley  Creed,  publisher,  Hugh  Robb,  editor. 

Hudson — The  Gleaner  was  established  in  1899  by  Chris  C.  Taylor, 
and  ran  for  a  few  years,  then  died. 

Leroy — One  paper  at  present  is  published  in  Leroy,  being  the  Jour- 
nal, edited  by  Melvin  A.  Cline.  Its  life  has  continued  from  1888,  when  it 
was  founded  by  John  S.  Harper,  and  he  was  succeeded  in  turn  by  W.  C. 
Devore,  and  J.  M.  Zellhoefer.  The  Journal  is  a  wide-awake  weekly.  Leroy 
has  been  the  scene  of  the  temporary  publication  of  many  weekly  papers, 
all  having  died  except  the  Journal.  As  far  back  as  1856,  James  Levens 
published  the  Observer  for  a  few  months.  John  S.  Harper  founded  the 
Sucker  State  in  1871  and  ran  it  for  two  years.  The  Leroy  Exchange  was 
edited  a  couple  of  years  in  the  '70's  by  J.  W.  Wolfe.  Charles  Davis  founded 
the  Enterprise  in  1877  and  it  ran  only  a  short  time.  The  Eagle  and  the 
Free  Press  were  two  other  papers  started  by  J.  S.  Harper  and  which  soon 
died.  The  Prohibition  Statesman  was  run  for  six  months  in  1884,  then 
sold  to  the  Lancet  in  Bloomington.  Rutledge  and  Crumbaugh  were  the 
owners  of  the  Democrat,  which  had  a  short  life. 

Lexington — The  Unit-Journal  is  the  only  paper  here,  being  a  weekly 
owned  and  edited  by  Miss  Florence  E.  Wright,  whose  father  conducted  it 
until  his  death.     This  paper  was  started  in  1891  by  Verne  McGilvray, 


284  History  of  McLean  County 

who  sold  it  to  E.  F.  Wright  in  1897.  There  were  several  paper  in  Lex- 
ington which  arose,  lived  and  died.  In  the  '50's  the  Globe  was  conducted 
by  Batterton  &  Craig,  then  by  Knotts  and  Mahan.  It  was  discontinued  in 
1861,  and  for  two  years,  1863-65,  Isaac  Mahan  and  John  D.  Rogers  ran 
the  Herald.  The  Courier,  edited  by  J.  W.  Fisher,  flourished  from  1869  to 
1872,  its  name  being  changed  to  The  Banner  later.  Rogers  edited  the 
Mackinaw  Sentinel  in  1873,  and  the  same  year  E.  M.  King  edited  the  En- 
terprise. The  Spectator  and  Review  were  other  short-lived  Lexington 
papers.  The  Review  lived  from  1883  to  1891,  run  by  Stark  and  Shepherd 
and  later  sold  to  McGilvray. 

McLean — The  Lens  is  a  weekly  paper  published  here  since  1880, 
owned  by  Crihfield  Bros,  of  Atlanta.  Various  men  have  served  as  local 
editors,  including  Mr.  Scott,  D.  G.  Palmer,  A.  R.  Dillman,  A.  M.  Howell, 
R.  E.  Gifford  and  W.  C.  Arnold. 

Normal — The  Normal  Advocate,  weekly,  was  started  by  John  A. 
Lasswell,  in  1887,  then  sold  to  E.  H.  Bailey  and  Charles  S.  Neeld,  then  to 
Neeld  and  J.  L.  Hasbrouck,  then  to  W.  A.  Luzader,  then  to  B.  H.  McCann 
and  lastly  to  C.  C.  Lewis.  The  McLean  County  Herald  was  conducted  for 
several  years  by  W.  A.  Luzader,  and  the  Normal  Independent  ran  six 
months  edited  by  Elmer  Edwards  and  C.  M.  Coen.  The  Morning  Call  was 
started  as  a  semi-weekly  by  A.  G.  Smith  and  sons  in  1895  and  ran  to  1903 
under  Barger  Bros,  and  C.  C.  Lewis  in  succession.  The  Normalite  by 
Clarence  Burner  is  the  only  weekly  published  in  Normal  now. 

Saybrook — The  Gazette  has  for  several  years  been  conducted  by 
Woolley  Bros,  with  Frank  Woolley  as  editor.  It  was  founded  in  1896.  A 
paper  of  the  same  name  flourished  1881-84  under  M.  H.  Tipton  and  George 
M.  Adams.  The  News  was  run  by  Thomas  Horsley  1881-84,  then  merged 
with  Gazette  under  Mace  &  Adams;  Adams  sold  to  Mace,  who  ran  it  to 
1888 ;  then  to  W.  H.  Rodman  and  then  to  Al  Mace,  who  changed  name  to 
Independent.  Mace  Bros  (J.  C.  and  H.  T.)  conducted  the  paper  to  1898, 
then  sold  to  N.  B.  Webster,  then  to  Frank  Woolley.  The  earliest  Saybrook 
paper  was  the  News,  started  by  J.  S.  Harper  in  1872.  The  Banner,  later 
the  Anti-Monopolist,  flourished  1872-3.  The  Herald  was  published  1875- 
91,  then  merged  with  Gazette. 

Stanford — The  Star,  weekly,  is  published  by  Crihfield  Bros.,  being 
founded  in  1893.    F.  L.  Garst  is  local  editor. 


History  of  McLean  County  285 

Towanda — The  Topic  and  the  News  were  two  Towanda  papers  which 
were  edited  in  the  '90's  and  early  1900.  J.  A.  Murray  was  editor  of  the 
News. 

In  addition  to  the  newspaper  and  kindred  publications,  McLean  County 
has  seen  the  rise  and  progress  of  many  other  sorts  of  weekly  and  monthly 
periodicals,  most  of  them  of  an  educational  nature.  These  have  been 
published  mostly  in  connection  with  one  or  another  of  the  educational 
institutions  of  this  county.  Some  of  them  flourished  for  a  time,  then  died 
away,  owing  to  changed  conditions  or  the  shifting  of  popular  interest  in 
the  subjects  treated.  The  members  of  the  faculties  of  the  State  Normal 
University  and  the  Wesleyan  University  have  in  the  course  of  the  years 
published  several  text-books  on  subjects  related  to  their  class-room  work. 

The  first  state  school  journal  published  in  Illinois  appeared  in  Feb- 
ruary, 1855,  printed  in  Bloomington  under  the  title  of  the  Illinois  Teacher, 
Merriman  &  Norris,  publishers,  and  edited  by  such  educators  of  the  time 
as  W.  F.  M.  Amy,  Newton  Bateman,  C.  E.  Hovey  and  Simeon  Wright.  In 
1873  it  was  merged  with  the  Illinois  Schoolmaster,  of  which  Aaron  Gove 
and  C.  E.  C.  Hewett  were  editors. 

George  P.  Brown  for  many  years  carried  on  a  successful  publishing 
business  for  school  people,  and  after  his  death  his  work  was  carried  on 
an  enlarged  scale  by  his  son,  George  A.  Brown  and  the  latter's  son,  Alfred 
0.  Brown.  It  is  now  incorporated  under  the  title  of  the  Public  School 
Publishing  Company.  The  list  of  its  publications  at  present  includes  a 
successful  bi-monthly  magazine  of  national  circulation,  and  several  school 
periodicals  of  national  and  international  scope.  The  name  of  the  maga- 
zine is  the  American  Review,  which  was  first  issued  in  1923.  The  periodi- 
cals published  by  this  company  include  the  Illinois  Teacher,  the  direct  suc- 
cessor of  the  Public  School  Journal  and  of  "School  and  Home  Education" ; 
the  Journal  of  Educational  Research,  which  has  an  international  reputa- 
tion; and  the  Year  Book  of  the  National  Society  for  the  Study  of 
Education. 

Several  periodicals  are  published  in  connection  with  the  Wesleyan 
University,  including  the  weekly  Wesleyan  Argus,  and  the  year  book 
called  the  Wesleyana.  These  are  edited  by  students  under  direction  of 
the  faculty. 

The  State  Normal  University  publishes  a  weekly  paper  for  students, 
called  The  Vidette.    The  year  book  of  the  university  is  called  the  Index, 


286 


History  of  McLean  County 


and  is  edited  by  students.  The  state  school  also  issues  The  Alumni  Quar- 
terly, which  keeps  the  graduates  of  the  university  in  touch  with  each  other 
and  with  the  present  activities  of  the  school. 

The  Bloomington  High  School  issues  a  year  book  under  the  title  of 
The  Aegis,  which  contains  a  summary  of  the  work  of  each  year  as  it 
appears. 


CHAPTER  XXIV. 


COUNTY  AND  OTHER  OFFICERS. 


CIRCUIT  JUDGES— CIRCUIT  CLERKS — SHERIFFS— SCHOOL  SUPERINTENDENTS- 
STATE'S  ATTORNEYS — COUNTY  JUDGES — PROBATE  JUDGE  AND  CLERK — 
COUNTY  CLERK  —  TREASURERS  —  RECORDERS  —  SURVEYORS  —  CORONERS — 
STATE  SENATORS— STATE  REPRESENTATIVES — OTHER  STATE  AND  FED- 
ERAL OFFICERS  FROM  McLEAN   COUNTY. 

A  long  list  of  distinguished  names  are  found  in  the  roster  of  the  men 
who  have  occupied  county  offices  in  McLean  County  from  the  earliest 
times  to  the  present.    Here  is  the  list: 

Circuit  Judges — Samuel  D.  Lockwood,  to  and  including  May  term, 
1834;  Stephen  T.  Logan,  April  term,  1835;  Thomas  Ford,  September  term, 
1835;  Stephen  T.  Ford,  April  and  September  terms,  1836;  William  Brown, 
April  and  September  terms,  1837 ;  John  Pearson,  September  term,  1837 ; 
Jesse  B.  Thomas,  May  term,  1838;  Daniel  Stone,  September  term,  1838; 
William  Thomas,  October  term,  1839;  Samuel  Treat,  May,  1845,  to  Sep- 
tember, 1848 ;  Theophilus  L.  Dickey,  April  term,  1849 ;  David  Davis,  Oc- 
tober, 1849,  to  September,  1862;  Charles  Emerson,  September,  1860,  to 
December,  1861;  Oliver  L.  Davis,  March  term,  1862;  John  M.  Scott,  De- 
cember term,  1862,  to  March,  1870 ;  Charles  Emerson,  June,  1864 ;  Thomas 
F.  Tipton,  September,  1870,  to  February,  1877 ;  Owen  T.  Reeves,  March, 
1877,  to  April,  1890;  John  Burnes,  March,  1877;  Nathaniel  J.  Pillsbury, 
November,  1879;  Franklin  Blades,  February,  1881;  Alfred  Sample,  .No- 
vember, 1886;  February,  1887;  September,  1889,  and  April,  1890;  Thomas 
F.  Tipton,  September,  1891,  to  April,  1897;  Alfred  Sample,  April  term, 

287 


288  History  of  McLean  County 

1897,  1896;  Colostin  D.  Myers,  September,   1897,  to  1915;  Sain  Welty, 
June,  1915,  to  April,  1920 ;  Edward  Barry,  April,  1920,  to  present  time. 

Circuit  Clerks— James  Allin,  1831-32;  Merritt  L.  Covell,  1832-45; 
James  T.  Gildersleeve,  1845-48;  William  H.  Allin,  1848-50;  James  Allin, 
Jr.,  1850-51;  William  McCullough,  1851-62;  Luman  Burr,  1862-63;  Ed- 
ward R.  Roe,  1862-68;  Robert  E.  Guthrie,  1868-72;  Samuel  F.  Dolloff, 
1872-76 ;  James  C.  McFarland,  1876-84 ;  James  H.  Leaton,  1884-96 ;  James 
C.  Elder,  1896-1910 ;  John  C.  Allen,  1912-20 ;  J.  Huber  Allen,  1920-24. 

Sheriffs— Cheney  Thomas,  1832-34;  Martin  Scott,  1834-40;  Green  B. 
Larison,  1840-42;  Richard  Edwards,  1842-44;  William  McCullough,  1844- 
48;  Jonathan  Glimpse,  1848-54;  John  J.  Price,  1854-56;  Joseph  H.  Moore, 
1856-58 ;  William  P.  Withers,  John  L.  Routt,  1860-62 ;  Norvel  Dixon,  1862- 
64 ;  Henry  A.  Ewing,  1864-66 ;  Edward  M.  Pike,  1866-68 ;  Gustave  Lange, 
1868-70;  Richard  Osborn,  1870-72;  Henry  Houscherdt,  1872-74;  James 
Goodheart,  1874-78;  Joseph  Ator,  1878-82;  Henry  H.  Swaim,  1882-86; 
Vinton  E.  Howell,  1886-90 ;  William  J.  Bishop,  1890-94 ;  James  Stone,  1894- 
98;  George  Johnson,  1898-1902;  Frank  Edwards,  1902-06;  A.  L.  Moore, 
1906-10 ;  James  Reeder,  1910-14 ;  George  R.  Flesher,  1914-18 ;  Ralph  Spaf- 
f ord,  1918-22 ;  J.  E.  Morrison,  1922.  Sheriff  Spafford  resigned  in  the  sum- 
mer of  1922  to  become  superintendent  of  the  Soldiers  Orphans'  Home  at 
Normal,  and  the  board  of  supervisors  appointed  J.  E.  Morrison,  a  deputy, 
to  the  position  of  sheriff.  In  the  election  of  November,  1922,  Morrison 
was  elected  for  a  full  term. 

School  Superintendents — The  head  of  the  school  system  of  the  county 
was  first  called  school  commissioner.  Those  who  served  in  that  capacity 
were:  William  D.urley,  1834;  Jesse  W.  Fell,  1836;  Cheney  Thomas,  1841; 
William  H.  Hodge,  1841 ;  James  B.  Price,  1849 ;  John  M.  Scott,  1852 ;  C.  P. 
Merriman,  1857;  Daniel  Wilkin,  1858;  C.  P.  Merriman,  1863.  The  posi- 
tion was  changed  to  superintendent  of  schools  about  1865  and  the  incum- 
bent elected.  Those  who  have  been  elected  as  superintendent  of  schools 
were:  Daniel  Wilkin,  1863-69;  John  Hull,  1869-75;  William  Hawley 
Smith,  1875-81 ;  John  A.  Miller,  1881-94 ;  John  S.  Wren,  1894-06 ;  Benjamin 
C.  Moore,  1906-1922 ;  Mrs.  Nettie  B.  Dement,  1922. 

State's  Attorneys. — Until  1870,  the  state's  attorney  was  elected  for 
the  judicial  district.    The  records  of  the  circuit  court  with  few  exceptions 


History  of  McLean  County  289 

do  not  show  the  name  of  the  state's  attorney  until  1850.  They  show 
Thomas  Moffitt,  May  term,  1833;  Charles  E.  Emerson,  April  term,  1836 
Jesse  B.  Thomas,  April  term,  1837 ;  A.  Campbell,  September  term,  1838 
A.  Campbell,  1849-53 ;  A.  McWilliams,  1854-56 ;  Ward  H.  Lamon,  1856-60 
Harvey  Hogg,  March  term,  1861 ;  W.  H.  Young,  1861-62 ;  Robert  E.  Wood- 
son, March  term,  1863 ;  Henry  S.  Green,  1863-66 ;  Thomas  F.  Tipton,  1866- 
68;  Jonathan  H.  Rowell,  1868-72;  Joseph  W.  Fifer,  1872-80;  Robert  P. 
Porter,  1880-84;  Edwin  H.  Miner*  1884-92;  John  A.  Sterling,  1892-96;  R. 
L.  Fleming,  1896-1904;  William  R.  Bach,  1904-12;  Miles  K.  Young,  1912- 
20 ;  Lester  H.  Martin,  1920-24. 

County  Judges. — Amasa  J.  Merriman  from  date  of  township  organi- 
zation in  1858  to  1873;  Reuben  M.  Benjamin  from  1873  to  1886;  Colos- 
tin  D.  Myers,  1886;  Roland  A.  Russell,  1897-1902;  1897-1910;  Homer  W. 
Hall,  1910-1914;  James  C.  Riley,  1914-1921;  William  C.  Radliff,  1921-24. 
Judge  Radliff  was  appointed  by  the  governor  to  succeed  Judge  Riley  in 
1921  when  the  latter  was  appointed  master  in  chancery,  and  Radliff  was 
elected  to  the  position  for  a  full  term  in  1922. 

Probate  Judge. — Under  the  census  of  1920,  McLean  County  had  more 
than  70,000  population,  permitting  the  election  of  a  probate  judge  in  ad- 
dition to  a  county  judge.  The  first  election  for  this  office  was  in  1922, 
when  Jesse  E.  Hoffman  was  elected  to  the  position. 

Probate  Clerk. — When  the  probate  court  was  established,  the  first 
election  for  a  probate  clerk  in  1922  resulted  in  the  election  of  W.  Scott 
Rodman  to  that  position. 

County  Clerks. — Isaac  Baker  was  appointed  in  1831  as  clerk  of  the 
county  commissioners'  court  and  served  to  September,  1839,  when  Bai- 
ley H.  Coffey  succeded  him,  serving  to  1849.  In  1849  the  county  court 
was  organized  with  Coffey  as  clerk,  serving  to  1853.  E.  H.  Rood  elected 
in  November,  1853,  served  to  1857,  when  township  organization  was  ef- 
fected. The  clerks  of  the  county  since  that  time  were :  William  C.  Hobbs, 
to  1860 ;  R.  L.  Davis,  to  1864 ;  R.  S.  Mclntyre  to  1869 ;  J.  W.  Straight,  to 
1873;  R.  L.  Davis,  to  1878;  Charles  W.  Atkinson,  to  1886;  Robert  Maxton, 
to  1894 ;  M.  H.  Newton,  to  1898 ;  R.  L.  Carlock,  to  1902 ;  C.  C.  Hassler,  to 
1910 ;  Parmeno  A.  Guthrie,  to  1924. 

(17) 


290  History  of  McLean  County 

County  Treasurers. — Under  the  county  commissioners  the  treasurers 
were  as  follows:  Thomas  Orendorff,  1831-33;  David  Wheeler,  1836; 
James  Rains,  1837;  Richard  Edwards,  1838;  G.  B.  Larison,  1839;  Asahel 
Gridley,  1839-41 ;  Welcome  P.  Brown,  1842 ;  William  H.  Temple,  1842-52 ; 
William  Thomas,  1851-58.  Under  township  organization  the  county  treas- 
urers from  1858  to  the  present  time  are  as  follows:  William  Thomas, 
1858-60;  Thomas  Fell,  1860-64;  John  L.  Routt,  1864-68;  Lewis  E.  Ijams, 
1868-72 ;  Joseph  Denison,  1872-74 ;  Isaac  W.  Stroud,  1874-76 ;  Joseph  Den- 
ison,  1876-86;  Lewis  E.  Ijams,  1886-90;  J.  L.  Douglass,  1890-94;  W.  J. 
Baldridge,  1894-98;  Joseph  C.  Means,  1898-1902;  James  Smith,  1902-06; 
William  A.  Stautz,  1906-10;  Phineas  Stubblefield,  1910-14;  Joseph  F.  Rice, 
1914-18;  William  C.  Means,  1918-22;  C.  C.  Baldwin,  1922. 

County  Recorder. — Samuel  Durley,  1832-33;  Isaac  Baker,  1833-49; 
William  H.  Allin,  1849-51;  James  Allin,  Jr.,  1851-52;  William  McUllough, 
1852-62;  Luman  Burr,  1862-63;  Edward  R.  Roe,  1863-68;  Robert  E.  Guth- 
rie, 1868-73 ;  Samuel  Dolloff ,  1873-77  ;  James  C.  McFarland,  1877-80 ;  Mar- 
tin H.  Newton,  1880-88;  Stacy  Tantum,  1888-96;  Matthew  R.  Cunning- 
ham, 1896-1904;  N.  B.  Carson,  1904-24. 

County  Surveyor — Isaac  Baker,  1832-35;  Elbert  Dickason,  1835-40; 
M.  R.  Bullock,  1840-41 ;  H.  Noble,  1841-47 ;  Nelson  Buck,  1847-50 ;  James 
T.  Swartz,  1850-51;  Peter  Folsom,  1851-57;  William  L.  Horr,  1857-60; 
John  P.  Healea,  1860-62;  J.  L.  Spaulding,  1862-66;  George  P.  Ela,  1866- 
70;  W.  P.  Anderson,  1870-76;  George  P.  Ela,  1876-84;  A.  J.  McComb,  1884- 
92;  Arthur  H.  Bell,  1892-1924. 

Coroners— Elijah  Watt,  1831-35;  John  Kimler,  1835-36;  Elijah  Rock- 
hold,  1836-42;  William  McCullough,  1842-46;  Thomas  Fell,  1846-51;  John 
Thrasher,  1851-54;  William  M.  Smith,  1854-55;  Angus  Elder,  1855-56; 
William  Matthews,  1856-64;  H.  S.  Herr,  1864-65;  Mark  Ross,  1865-67; 
Luke  Nevin,  1867-70;  William  B.  Hendryx,  1870-78;  D.  M.  Foster,  1878- 
80;  William  Matthews,  1880-83;  Ben  W.  Riser,  1883-92;  James  F.  Hare, 
1892-96;  N.  B.  Carson,  1896-1900;  J.  M.  Rugless,  1900-08;  James  F.  Hare, 
1908-20;  Lee  McReynolds,  1920-24. 

State  Senators — James  Allin,  Whig,  1836-40;  John  Moore,  Democrat, 
1840-42;  Robert  F.  Burkett,  Whig,  1842-44;  George  W.  Powers,  Whig, 
1844-48;  Asahel  Gridley,  Whig,  1848-50-54;  Isaac  Funk,  Republican  (died 


History  of  McLean  County  291 

in  office),  1862-65;  William  H.  Cheney,  Republican,  1866-68;  John  McNulta, 
Republican,  1868-72 ;  John  Cusey,  Republican,  1872-76 ;  John  M.  Hamilton, 
Republican,  1876-80;  Joseph  W.  Fifer,  Republican,  1880-84;  Lafayette 
Funk,  Republican,  1884-88 ;  Thomas  C.  Kerrick,  Republican,  1888-92 ;  Vin- 
ton E.  Howell,  Republican,  1892-96;  George  W.  Stubblefield,  Republican, 
1896-1908;  Frank  H.  Funk,  Republican,  1908-12;  N.  Elmo  Franklin,  Re- 
publican, 1912-16;  William  H.  Wright,  Republican,  1916-20;  Frank  O.  Han- 
son, Republican,  1920-24. 

State  Representatives — Welcome  P.  Brown,  Democrat,  1834-36 ;  George 
Henshaw,  Democrat,  1836-38;  John  Moore,  Democrat,  1838-40;  Asahel 
Gridley,  Whig,  1840-42 ;  Isaac  Funk,  Whig,  1840-42 ;  Mahlon  Bishop,  Dem- 
ocrat, 1842-44;  Andrew  McMillan,  Democrat,  1842-44;  David  Davis,  Whig, 
1844-46;  Matthew  Robb,  Whig,  1846-48;  James  B.  Price,  Democrat,  1848- 
50;  John  E.  McClun,  Whig,  1852-56;  John  H.  Wickizer,  Republican,  1852- 
56;  Leonard  Swett,  Republican,  1858-60;  Harvey  Hogg,  Republican,  1860- 
62;  Harrison  Noble,  Republican,  1862-66;  William  M.  Smith  (elected 
speaker  in  1871),  1866-72;  Edward  R.  Roe,  Republican,  1870-72;  Warren 
C.  Watkins,  Republican,  1870-72;  George  W.  Funk,  Republican,  1870-72; 
Leonidas  H.  Kerrick,  Republican,  1870-72;  Archibald  E.  Stewart,  Repub- 
lican, 1872-76;  Thomas  P.  Rogers,  Democrat,  1872-80;  John  Cassedy,  Re- 
publican, 1872-74;  John  F.  Winter,  Republican,  1874-78;  Thomas  F.  Mit- 
chell, Republican,  1876-84;  Henry  A.  Ewing,  Republican,  1878-80;  Will- 
iam Hill,  Democrat,  1880-82;  George  B.  Okeson,  Republican,  1880-82;  La- 
fayette Funk,  Republican,  1882-84;  Samuel  B.  Kinsey,  Republican,  1882- 
86;  Ivory  H.  Pike,  Republican,  1884-86;  Frank  Y.  Hamilton,  Republican, 
1886-88;  John  Eddy,  Democrat,  1886-92;  Ivory  H.  Pike,  Republican,  1888- 
90;  Henry  L.  Tarpenning,  Republican,  1888-92;  Edmund  O'Connell,  Re- 
publican, 1890-94;  Bernard  J.  Claggett,  Democrat,  1892-94;  Edward  Stub- 
blefield, Republican,  1892-96;  James  F.  O'Donnell,  Democrat,  1894-98; 
John  L.  White,  Republican,  1894-96;  Duncan  M.  Funk,  Republican,  1896- 
1902 ;  Arthur  J.  Scrogin,  Republican,  1896-1902 ;  Miles  Brooks,  Democrat, 
1898-1900 ;  John  F.  Heffernan,  Democrat,  1900-94 ;  Wesley  M.  Owem,  Re- 
publican, 1902-04;  Cassius  M.  Coyle,  Republican,  1904-08;  Paul  Finnan, 
Democrat,  1904-08;  W.  H.  Wright,  Republican,  1908-12;  Daniel  D.  Dona- 
hue, Democrat,  1908-12;  Frank  Gillespie,  Democrat,  1912-14;  William 
Rowe,  Republican,  1912-22;  Daniel  D.  Donahue,  Democrat,  1914-18;  J.  C. 


292  History  of  McLean  County 

Harvey,  Republican,  1914-16;  George  E.  Dooley,  Democrat,  1918-20;  Mar- 
tin A.  Brennan,  Democrat,  1920-24. 

The  following  is  the  list  of  citizens  of  McLean  County  who  have  held 
offices  of  more  or  less  importance  in  the  national  and  state  governments: 

United  States  Senate — Adlai  E.  Stevenson,  Democrat,  vice-president 
of  the  United  States  and  presiding  officer  of  the  senate,  1892-96. 

David  Davis,  Independent,  United  States  Senator,  1877-83;  also  act- 
ing president  of  the  senate  during  the  last  two  years  of  his  term. 

Representatives  in  Congress — John  McNulta,  Republican,  1873-75; 
Adlai  E.  Stevenson,  Democrat,  1875-77 ;  Thomas  F.  Tipton,  Republican, 
1877-79;  Adlai  E.  Stevenson,  Democrat,  1879-81;  Jonathan  H.  Rowell, 
Republican,  1881-91 ;  Owen  Scott,  Democrat,  1891-93 ;  Benjamin  F.  Funk, 
Republican,  1893-95;  John  A.  Sterling,  1903-13;  Louis  FitzHenry,  Demo- 
crat, 1913-15;  John  A.  Sterling,  Republican,  1915-18;  Frank  H.  Funk, 
1921-25.  John  A.  Sterling  met  accidental  death  in  October,  1918,  and 
Frank  L.  Smith  of  Dwight  was  appointed  to  succeed  him,  serving  until  1921. 

Diplomatic  Service — James  S.  Ewing,  Democrat,  United  States  min- 
ister to  Belgium,  1894-97. 

United  States  Judiciary — David  Davis,  Republican,  justice  Supreme 
Court,  1861-77;  Lawrence  Welson,  Republican,  judge  of  U.  S.  Court  of 
Claims,  1883-1905;  district  judge  of  Southern  Illinois  Federal  District, 
Louis  FitzHenry,  1918  to  the  present  time. 

Assistant  Secretary  of  Agriculture — Carl  Schurz  Vrooman,  1914-19. 

Paymaster  in  Navy — Lewis  G.  Stevenson,  1917-18. 

U.  S.  Navy — Julius  Freeman,  lieutenant,  1871-84. 

U.  S.  Regular  Army — Brig.-Gen.  Harry  Gore  Bishop,  1905  to  present 
time;  Major  Ralph  B.  Bates,  1903-23;  now  retired;  Brig.-Gen.  James  G. 
Harbord,  1889-1923 ;  now  retired. 

U.  S.  Consul — John  F.  Winter,  served  at  several  different  stations  in 
Europe,  1880-90. 

United  States  Marshal — John  L.  Routt,  Republican,  1869-71;  Edward 
R.  Roe,  Republican,  1871-80. 

Assistant  Postmaster  General — Adlai  E.  Stevenson,  Democrat,  1885- 
89 ;  Giles  A.  Smith,  Republican,  1869-72. 

John  L.  Routt,  Republican,  second  assistant,  1871-75. 

State  Officers — John  Moore,  Democrat,  lieutenant  governor,  1842-46; 
John  M.   Hamilton,   Republican,   lieutenant  governor,   1881-83;  John  M. 


History  of  McLean  County  293 

Hamilton,  governor,  1883-85;  Joseph  W.  Fifer,  governor,  1888-92;  John 
Moore,  Democrat,  state  treasurer,  1848-57 ;  James  Miller,  Republican, 
state  treasurer,  1857-59 ;  Richard  Edwards,  state  superintendent  public 
instruction,  1887-91;  John  M.  Scott,  judge  Supreme  Court,  1870-88;  Owen 
T.  Reeves,  judge  appellate  court,  1888-91 ;  Colostin  D.  Myers,  judge  ap- 
pellate court,  1903-07 ;  Lewis  G.  Stevenson,  secretary  of  state,  1914-17. 

Railroad  and  Warehouse  Commissioners — Richard  P.  Morgan,  Demo- 
crat, July  1,  1871,  to  March  13,  1873 ;  William  M.  Smith,  Republican,  Feb. 
21,  1877,  to  March  8,  1883;  Isaac  N.  Phillips,  Republican,  Feb.  27,  1889, 
to  Jan.  18,  1893 ;  James  S.  Neville,  June  20,  1901-08. 

Supreme  Court  Reporter — Isaac  N.  Phillips,  Republican,  October  24, 
1894,  to  his  death  in  1910;  Samuel  P.  Irwin,  from  Oct.  21,  1910,  to  the 
present  time. 

Judge  State  Court  of  Claims — Martin  A.  Brennan,  1916-20. 

State  Penitentiary  Commission — H.  H.  Green,  1892-94. 

State  Board  of  Pardons — Lewis  G.  Stevenson,  1913-14. 


CHAPTER  XXV. 


WORLD  WAR. 


UNITED  STATES  ENTERS  WAR — SOME  OF  THE  THINGS  McLEAN  COUNTY  DID— 
THOSE  WHO  GAVE  THEIR  LIVES— DRAFT  BOARDS — RED  CROSS — RELIEF 
ASSOCIATIONS  —  LOAN  CAMPAIGNS  —  FOOD  CONSERVATION  —  WOMEN  IN 
SERVICE— COUNCIL  OF  DEFENSE— FOOD  ADMINISTRATION— FUEL  ADMINIS- 
TRATION— GENERAL  HARBARD— FOUR-MINUTE  MEN. 

When  the  cataclysm  of  war  which  had  flooded  Europe  from  the  time 
of  its  outbreak  in  1914  had  finally  overrun  its  bounds  and  swept  across 
the  Atlantic  to  the  shores  of  America,  in  1917,  some  of  its  waves  broke 
into  the  farthest  corners  of  our  country. 

The  awakening  to  the  awful  fact  of  war  was  somewhat  slow;  the 
people  rubbed  their  eyes  and  for  a  time  thought  that  it  must  be  some 
horrible  dream — that  it  could  not  be  true.  But  when  once  aroused  to 
the  truth  that  they,  too,  along  with  the  peoples  of  all  America  and  the 
sorely  oppressed  population  of  Europe,  were  to  taste  the  terror  and  suffer- 
ing, if  not  the  actual  devastation  of  war,  they  arose  in  spirit  to  the 
height  of  energy  and  sacrifice  that  must  for  many  years,  and  even  many 
generations,  remain  a  page  of  their  history  which  is  glorious  and  unfor- 
gettable. 

Here  are  some  of  the  things  which  McLean  County  people  did  toward 
the  overthrow  of  the  world  menace: 

Offered  some  2,500  young  men  as  volunteers  for  service  in  the  army 
and  navy. 

Sent  more  than  2,500  more  young  men  into  service  through  the  opera- 
tion of  the  draft  law. 

294 


History  of  McLean  County  295 

Offered  the  very  lives  of  more  than  150  men  from  this  county  or 
former  residents  here,  who  died  on  battlefields,  in  camps  and  on  the  seas. 

Raised  more  than  $11,000,000  in  the  five  different  liberty  loan  drives 
to  lend  to  their  government  to  prosecute  the  war. 

Gave  some  fifty  or  more  of  the  leading  physicians  and  surgeons  to  the 
service  of  the  government  during  the  war,  on  battle  fields  and  camps. 

Gave  a  score  or  more  of  nurses  to  succor  the  wounded  and  sick  on 
the  field  and  in  hospitals. 

Sent  a  half  hundred  men  and  women  to  the  service  in  the  work  of  the 
Y.  M.  C.  A.  and  its  allied  humanitarian  fields. 

Raised  more  than  $140,000  for  the  work  of  the  Red  Cross  in  the  two 
great  drives  of  the  war. 

Enlisted  14,000  men,  women  and  children  in  the  active  membership 
of  the  Red  Cross  in  this  county. 

Raised  some  $50,000  for  the  work  of  the  Y.  M.  C.  A.  in  war  in  the 
different  drives  for  that  purpose. 

Contributed  the  sum  of  over  $170,000  in  the  United  War  Work  drive. 

Donated  thousands  of  dollars  for  the  work  of  the  Salvation  Army, 
the  Jewish  Welfare  campaign,  the  Armenian  Relief  campaign  and  other 
humanitarian,  projects  connected  with  the  war. 

Contributed  to  the  use  and  comfort  of  the  men  in  the  service  more 
than  441,114  articles  valued  at  $123,000  through  the  work  of  the  women 
of  the  Red  Cross  in  McLean  County. 

Organized  the  women  and  girls  of  the  county  into  bands  of  tireless, 
unselfish  working  people  whose  time  and  strength  was  given  without  stint 
to  the  business  of  furnishing  war-needed  materials. 

Subscribed  for  more  than  a  million  dollars'  worth  of  War  Saving 
Stamps  by  which  the  thrift  of  the  people  of  smaller  means  was  promoted. 

The  List  of  Dead. 

The  list  of  those  from  McLean  County  who  gave  up  their  lives  in  the 
World  War  is  a  notable  one. 

Clyde  Lorranie  Allison,  of  Lexington,  died  of  influenza  at  Camp  Mills 
on  Oct.  24,  1918,  the  day  after  his  division,  the  31st,  sailed  for  France. 

Frederick  Allen,  of  Bloomington,  died  of  influenza  at  Camp  Mills, 
Oct.  18,  1918. 


296  History  of  McLean  County 

George  Herman  Anna,  Wesleyan  student  in  the  law  school,  was  fa- 
tally wounded  in  battle  on  Nov.  10,  1918. 

Jesse  S.  Anderson,  son  of  City  Commissioner  John  F.  Anderson,  died 
of  pneumonia  in  a  hospital  at  Glasgow,  Scotland,  Oct.  2,  1918. 

Harry  and  George  Abrama,  formerly  of  Hudson,  both  lost  their  lives. 
George  died  of  influenza  at  Camp  Lewis,  Wash.,  shortly  after  he  entered. 
Harry  was  killed  in  battle  Aug.  2,  1918.    Both  enlisted  from  Montana. 

Lyle  Best,  Wesleyan  student,  died  of  influenza  at  Great  Lakes  naval 
station  on  Aug.  27,  1918. 

Corporal  Ernest  Benedict,  of  McLean,  was  fatally  wounded  at  Cha- 
teau Thierry  and  he  died  July  7,  1918. 

Orville  Bechtel,  of  near  Holder,  died  in  a  hospital  at  Augusta,  Ga., 
in  October,  1918. 

Sergt.  ETdie  Bailey,  formerly  of  Hudson,  was  killed  in  battle  Oct. 
9,  1918. 

Howard  A.  Bolin,  son  of  J.  F.  Bolin,  of  Bloomington,  was  killed  in 
battle  in  France,  July  20,  1918. 

Dewey  Burger,  of  McLean,  fell  in  action  on  July  19,  1918.  He  was 
one  of  four  brothers  who  enlisted  in  May,  1917. 

Lieut.  Hugh  Bromfield,  formerly  of  Hudson,  was  shot  down  by  the 
enemy  when  flying  over  their  lines  near  Verdun  in  October,  1918. 

Melvin  Bossingham,  of  Stanford,  died  of  influenza  at  Camp  Mills, 
Oct.  19,  1918. 

Thomas  Backhouse,  of  Bloomington,  was  killed  in  action  on  Oct.  19, 
1918. 

William  Frank  Barnes,  of  Cropsey,  died  in  a  military  hospital  at  La- 
fayette, Ind.,  on  Dec.  9,  1918. 

Earl  Brown,  of  Lexington,  died  of  pneumonia  at  Havre,  France,  Oct. 
11,  1918. 

John  Betton,  of  Gridley,  died  in  Camp  Mills,  from  influenza. 

G.  Dooley  Blue,  of  Bloomington,  was  killed  in  action  while  serving 
with  a  Canadian  regiment. 

Lieut.  Richard  Boydston,  of  Bloomington,  died  on  board  ship  while 
en  route  to  France. 

Roy  E.  Crotinger,  of  Saybrook,  died  of  wounds  received  in  battle  on 
Nov.  3,  1918. 


i 


imw 

Of  THE 


History  of  McLean  County  297 

Charles  A.  Clarke,  of  Bloomington,  died  of  influenza  at  Great  Lakes 
in  October,  1918. 

Eugene  Conley,  of  Bloomington,  was  shot  down  in  action  Oct.  4,  1918. 

William  H.  Campbell,  of  Bloomington,  lost  his  life  in  battle  Oct.  9, 
1918. 

Henry  Campbell,  of  McLean,  was  killed  in  action  Aug.  6,  1918. 

Roy  Crutchley,  of  McLean,  was  killed  in  battle  at  St.  Mihiel,  Sept. 
13,  1918. 

George  Carlock,  formerly  of  Carlock,  died  of  influenza  in  a  Paris  hos- 
pital on  Oct.  22,  1918. 

Milo  R.  Chaney  died  of  wounds  in  battle  on  Aug.  13,  1918. 

Thomas  Cooney,  of  Bloomington,  died  of  pneumonia  in  France  in 
November,  1918. 

James  Carroll,  of  Arrowsmith,  died  at  Camp  Grant  of  pneumonia, 
Sept.  27,  1918. 

David  Humphrey  Daniel,  of  Saybrook,  died  on  shipboard  on  October 
21,  following  an  attack  of  pneumonia. 

Lieut.  Louis  Eddy  Davis,  of  Bloomington,  was  killed  when  his  air- 
plane fell  at  Ellington  field,  Texas,  on  May  10,  1918. 

Isaiah  Deckard,  of  Carlock,  died  of  wounds  in  action  in  October,  1918. 

Lieut.  Elmer  Doocey,  Wesleyan  student,  was  killed  in  action  on  Aug. 
13,  1918. 

Bernard  Davis,  of  Colfax,  met  his  death  in  battle  Sept.  28,  1918. 

Corp.  John  L.  Dorrell,  of  Heyworth,  lost  his  life  in  the  battle  of  the 
Argonne,  October  3. 

Chester  Daniel,  died  of  pneumonia,  in  France,  August  10. 

William  Dunlap,  of  Bloomington,  died  in  a  naval  hospital  in  Brook- 
lyn, Oct.  16. 

Edward  Dwyer,  of  Cooksville,  was  killed  in  action  in  August,  1918. 

Pearl  Dickerson,  of  Leroy,  was  drowned  in  the  sinking  of  the  steamer 
Otranto,  off  the  coast  of  Scotland. 

Joseph  A.  Erbe,  of  Normal,  was  killed  in  action  in  Aug.  7,  1918. 

William  H.  Eckhart,  of  Weston,  died  of  pneumonia  at  Fort  Bliss, 
Texas,  on  Oct.  11,  1918. 

Lieut.  George  H.  Edwards  died  at  Trieste,  in  February,  1919,  after 
he  had  been  sent  there  on  military  duty. 

Warren  H.  Fletcher,  of  Heyworth,  was  killed  in  battle  Sept.  29,  1918. 


298  History  of  McLean  County 

Corp.  Lyle  Fike,  of  Bloomington,  lost  his  life  in  battle  Oct.  20. 

Sergt.  Charles  E.  Gunter,  of  Bloomington,  died  in  a  hospital  at  de 
Meucon,  France,  on  Feb.  24,  1919. 

Earl  Grant,  of  Bellflower,  died  of  influenza  at  Jefferson  Barracks  on 
Oct.  18.  His  brother,  Ervin  Grant,  died  while  with  the  army  of  occupa- 
tion in  Germany,  in  January,  1919. 

William  S.  Golliday,  of  Lexington,  died  of  pneumonia  at  Brunswick, 
N.  J.,  Sept.  20. 

Vergne  Greiner,  officer  in  the  Wesleyan  student  corps,  died  of  influ- 
enza in  this  city,  Oct.  22,  1918. 

Harry  Oscar  Grail,  of  Bloomington,  was  killed  in  the  Argonne  drive 
on  Sept.  29. 

Joseph  Hauptman,  of  Bloomington,  was  killed  in  action  on  June  6, 
1918. 

Elmo  Franklin  Hill,  of  Lexington,  died  of  pneumonia  in  a  hospital  in 
France,  on  Sept.  23. 

J.  W.  Hartley,  of  Normal,  died  of  wounds  in  battle  in  France  in 
October. 

Robert  Hoffman,  former  Normal  student,  died  of  wounds  in  France, 
Oct.  1. 

Herbert  H.  Holman,  of  Bloomington,  was  accidentally  killed  while 
ashore  at  Queenstown,  Ireland,  on  leave  from  his  ship,  in  January,  1919. 

William  Roy  Hinthorn,  of  Normal,  died  at  Jefferson  Barracks,  in 
January,  1918. 

Charles  E.  Harrison,  of  Chenoa,  died  of  pneumonia  in  a  New  Jersey 
hospital. 

Sergt.  Ralph  Hoover,  of  Bloomington,  died  of  pneumonia  at  Fort  Ste- 
vent,  Ore. 

William  G.  Haynes,  of  Leroy,  died  of  pneumonia  in  a  hospital  in 
France. 

William  Hensley,  of  near  Colfax,  died  of  wounds  in  battle  in  June, 
1918. 

Matthew  Holman,  of  McLean,  died  in  a  military  hospital  at  Syracuse, 

Oct.  10. 

Thomas  R.  Helmick,  of  Leroy,  died  while  serving  in  the  regular  army 
in  the  Philippines,  Feb.  7,  1919. 

Edwin  Iehl,  formerly  of  Normal,  died  at  Camp  Mills,  Oct.  14. 


History  of  McLean  County  299 

Auda  A.  Humble,  of  McLean,  died  of  pneumonia  in  France  Oct.  2,  1918. 

Frank  M.  Jordan,  of  Bloomington,  died  of  wounds  in  France,  Nov.  11, 
1918. 

Loring  F.  Jones  was  a  victim  of  influenza  at  Camp  Grant,  Oct.  13. 

Lieut.  Allington  Jolly,  of  Cropsey,  was  killed  in  an  accident  while  fly- 
ing an  army  plane  at  Freeport,  N.  Y.,  April  27,  1919. 

John  Oscar  Jenkins,  of  Lexington,  was  killed  in  battle  in  France. 

Ransom  Johnson,  of  Bloomington,  died  of  pneumonia  at  Gloversville, 
N.  Y.,  Oct.  1. 

Lemuel  Jones,  Wesleyan  law  student,  was  killed  in  action  Oct.  4. 

Louis  Karl  Koch,  of  Bloomington,  was  killed  in  battle  Sept.  12. 

Ben  Kaplan,  of  Chenoa,  died  of  pneumonia  at  Jefferson  Barracks, 
Oct.  7. 

Wilbur  Killion  was  killed  by  a  fall  from  a  train  while  returning  home 
to  Bloomington  from  a  southern  camp. 

Albert  Louis  Kerber,  of  Colfax,  died  of  measles  in  a  hospital  in  France, 
Dec.  7,  1918. 

Ernest  G.  Knecht,  of  Bloomington,  died  in  service  at  Charlestown, 
W.  Va.,  Oct.  19. 

Clyde  Kind,  of  Covell,  died  in  a  hospital  at  Great  Lakes,  Oct.  1. 

Leonard  J.  Kilgore,  died  of  pneumonia  at  Gates  Hospital,  Chatta- 
nooga. 

John  H.  Kraus,  of  Danvers,  was  killed  in  battle  July  18,  1918. 

Edwin  C.  Kitterman,  of  Bloomington,  was  killed  in  battle  Sept.  28. 

Kline  Alfred  Lantz,  of  Downs,  died  of  influenza  at  Fort  Benjamin 
Harrison. 

Fridolin  C.  Lanzer,  of  Chenoa,  died  at  Camp  Dodge,  April  18. 

Leslie  0.  Lash,  of  Bloomington,  died  at  Walter  Reed  Hospital  in 
Washington. 

Jennings  Bryan  Maxwell,  of  McLean,  died  at  Norfolk,  Va.,  of  influ- 
enza, Oct.  2. 

Owen  Gilbert  Means,  of  Bloomington,  was  a  victum  of  pneumonia  at 
Great  Lakes. 

Corp.  Carl  E.  Miller,  of  Heyworth,  was  killed  in  battle  May  18,  1918. 

Harry  C.  Myers,  of  McLean,  lost  his  life  in  battle  in  June,  1918. 

Roy  F.  Mitchell,  of  Lexington,  died  at  Jefferson  barracks  in  Feb- 
ruary, 1917. 


300  History  of  McLean  County 

Harvey  C.  Mishler,  of  Covell,  died  at  Great  Lakes  in  March,  1919. 

Thomas  L.  McVey,  of  Bloomington,  died  of  pneumonia  in  France. 

Homer  W.  Mitchell,  of  Twin  Grove,  died  on  the  hospital  ship  Mercy 
off  coast  of  Virginia,  Oct.  21. 

David  Thomas  Morgan,  of  Bloomington,  was  killed  at  Chateau  Thierry 
in  June,  1918. 

Erwin  P.  Mertenson,  of  Anchor,  was  killed  at  Belleau  Woods,  June  21. 

Glen  Martin,  of  Heyworth,  died  in  a  hospital  in  France,  in  October. 

Eugene  McCarthy,  of  Bloomington,  died  of  influenza  at  Great  Lakes. 

Clyde  Robert  Miller,  of  Danvers,  died  at  Camp  Grant,  Oct.  9. 

Edward  Maddock,  of  Bloomington,  died  of  pneumonia  in  a  hospital 
in  France. 

Grant  E.  Metcalf,  of  near  Bloomington,  died  of  wounds  in  action 
Sept.  20. 

Ulysses  Miller,  of  Holder,  was  killed  in  battle  Oct.  20. 

Arthur  Niedmeyer,  formerly  of  Bloomington,  died  at  the  San  An- 
tonio aviation  field  from  disease  in  January,  1918. 

Corp.  Charles  E.  Nelson,  of  Leroy,  was  accidentally  killed  while  on 
duty  in  France,  Sept.  13. 

Ruel  Neal,  of  Leroy,  was  killed  in  action  in  France  in  September,  1918. 

Wayne  Newcomb,  of  Saybrook,  died  of  pneumonia  with  the  army  of 
occupation  in  Germany  in  January,  1919. 

John  Lincoln  North,  of  Gridley,  died  of  pneumonia  at  Camp  Mills  in 
October. 

Fred  O'Connor,  of  Bloomington,  died  at  Camp  Grant,  Oct.  8,  of  in- 
fluenza. 

Henry  Peckmann  died  at  Camp  Funston  while  serving  with  the  army 
Y.  M.  C.  A. 

Clarence  Earl  Patterson,  of  Bloomington,  died  at  Camp  Grant  Oct.  2. 

Sergt.  Leslie  G.  Pfiffner,  of  Normal,  lost  his  life  in  battle  Sept.  26. 

William  Robert  Patton,  of  Lawndale,  was  killed  in  battle  in  October. 

Bud  Peterson,  of  Bloomington,  died  at  Camp  Grant,  Oct.  9,  1918. 

Capt.  Hugh  Mitchell  Price,  formerly  of  Bloomington,  died  of  acci- 
dental injury  at  Newport  News,  Nov.  4. 

Henry  Pietsch,  of  Bloomington,  died  at  Camp  Grant  from  influenza, 
Oct.  2. 

Willard  Pierson  of  Bloomington  died  in  a  military  hospital  in  France, 
Oct.  12. 


History  of  McLean  County  301 

Herbert  Quarnstrom,  Wesleyan  student,  died  of  pneumonia  at  Camp 
Grant  in  April,  1918. 

Lee  J.  Roebuck  of  Bloomington  was  killed  when  his  airplane  fell  at 
Deseronto,  Canada,  where  he  was  in  training,  Oct.  20,  1917. 

Alfred  Ross  of  Heyworth  died  of  pneumonia  at  Great  Lakes,  Sept.  28. 

Maurice  Musick  Roberts,  Wesleyan  corps  student,  died  of  pneumonia 
on  Oct.  17. 

Howard  Rodman  of  Bloomington  died  of  pneumonia  at  Hoboken, 
Oct.  10. 

Sergt.  Wesley  Ruyle  of  Bloomington  was  killed  in  the  Argonne  drive. 

Harry  Rusmisell  of  Stanford  died  of  pneumonia  at  Havre,  France. 

John  M.  Redd  of  Bloomington,  was  killed  in  battle  in  October. 

John  E.  Shreck  of  Gridley  was  a  victim  of  pneumonia  at  Camp  Sheri- 
dan, Ala. 

Fred  Skinner  of  Bloomington  died  in  a  hospital  at  Glasgow,  Scotland. 

Earl  Spencer  of  Bloomington  died  of  wounds  in  battle  Sept.  25. 

Sergt.  Jesse  G.  Spence  of  Bloomington  died  of  pneumonia  at  Quan- 
tico,  Va. 

Benedict  J.  Roth  of  Chenoa  died  of  pneumonia  in  France. 

Earl  T.  Smith  of  Cooksville  died  at  Camp  Taylor  from  pneumonia. 

William  and  Melvin  Savage,  formerly  of  Dawns,  lost  their  lives, 
William  being  drowned  when  he  fell  from  a  ship  at  Norfolk,  and  Melvin 
dying  when  he  came  home  to  attend  his  brother's  funeral. 

George  R.  Simons  of  Normal  died  in  a  hospital  at  Brest,  France, 
Oct.  9. 

Edmund  W.  Sutherland  of  Bloomington  died  of  influenza  at  Camp 
Grant,  Oct.  7. 

Clayton  Sholty  of  Bloomington  died  at  Jefferson  Barracks  on  Feb. 
10,  1918. 

Archie  F.  Stewart  of  Randolph  died  on  board  ship  from  pneumonia 
and  was  buried  at  sea  on  Sept.  26,  1918. 

Walter  C.  Seeger  of  Bloomington  was  killed  in  battle  Oct.  15. 

Sergt.  David  B.  Stevenson,  was  killed  in  action  Nov.  4,  1918. 

Charles  F.  Smith  of  Gridley  died  of  wounds  in  action. 

William  Stroh  of  Anchor  died  at  Camp  Mills  from  influenza,  Oct.  18. 

Charis  Streenz  of  Bloomington  died  at  Fort  Sam  Houston,  Texas, 
Oct.  18. 


302  History  of  McLean  County 

Harley  B.  Salzman  died  in  France  on  January  25,  1918,  in  a  military 
hospital. 

Elmer  Steffen  of  Cropsey  died  at  home  just  after  he  had  been  dis- 
charged. 

Alva  H.  Smith  of  Carlock  died  in  a  Liverpool  hospital  Oct.  20. 

Herbert  Schroeder  of  Bloomington  died  in  a  hospital  at  Baltimore  in 
October,  1918. 

Frank  M.  Thoennes  of  Bloomington  died  of  influenza  in  a  hospital  in 
Glasgow. 

Leo  Sherburn  of  Bloomington  was  killed  in  battle  in  October. 

Van  Todd  of  Danvers  was  killed  in  battle  in  Sept.,  1918. 

Alva  Roy  Ulmer  of  Anchor  died  at  Camp  Mills  Oct.  21,  from  pneu- 
monia. 

Remi  Vereecke  of  Bloomington  was  a  victim  of  pneumonia  at  Camp 
Servier,  S.  C. 

George  Gray  Wheelock  of  McLean  died  at  Camp  Grant  from  pneu- 
monia. 

Maurice  Wakefield  of  Heyworth  died  in  S.  A.  T.  C.  service  at  Iowa 
Ag.  college. 

Rudolph  D.  Watt  of  Leroy  died  of  tuberculosis  in  France  in  Jan., 
1919. 

Clarence  Weakley  of  Lexington  died  in  a  hospital  at  Hoboken,  Jan. 
19,  1919. 

Louis  Weiler  died  while  serving  in  the  merchant  marine  in  Dec,  1918. 

Edwin  Wendell  of  near  Bloomington  was  killed  in  battle  June  7,  1918. 

Bud  Williams  was  killed  in  action  in  September. 

John  R.  Wilson  of  Danvers  died  at  Fort  Wright  in  April,  1918. 

John  T.  Wakefield  of  Heyworth  died  of  pneumonia  on  the  U.  S.  S. 
Maine  on  Oct.  2. 

Howard   Wiley   of   Danvers    died   from   pneumonia   at   Great   Lakes 
Oct.  8. 

Warren  K.  Webber  of  Arrowsmith  died  in  Washington  Oct.  15. 

Fred  Wampler  of  Arrowsmith  died  at  Fort  Riley  March  30,  1918. 

Charles  Theodore  Witt  of  Arrowsmith  died  at  Camp  Mills,  Oct.,  10. 

Sergt.  Edwin  D.  Waltmire  of  McLean  was  killed  in  action  July  19. 

Leo  Vincent  died  from  the  result  of  war  exposures,  although  his 
death  did  not  take  place  until  in  April,  1920,  after  long  suffering. 


History  of  McLean  County  303 

The  Draft  Boards. 

The  war  had  been  in  theoretical  progress  only  for  a  few  months,  when 
the  Congress  of  the  United  States  saw  that  some  kind  of  a  general  military 
service  law  would  become  a  necessity ;  to  summon  the  man  power  of  the 
country  to  the  call  of  duty.  Accordingly  the  so-called  draft  law  was  passed 
by  the  Congress  in  May,  1917,  and  the  date  of  June  5,  1917,  was  set  for  the 
time  when  all  the  men  of  the  nation  between  the  ages  of  21  and  31  should 
register  in  their  respective  homes  as  subject  to  military  call.  On  the  date 
mentioned,  there  were  5,800  young  men  registered  in  the  various  prcincts 
of  McLean  County.  McLean  County  was  divided  into  two  districts,  one 
including  the  city  of  Bloomington  together  with  Allin  and  Dale  Townships ; 
the  other  district  to  include  all  of  the  county  court ;  chairman  of  city  board 
No.  2,  Judge  Sain  Welty,  including  most  of  the  county  precincts  was  known 
as  No.  1  and  the  city  district  No.  2.  The  personnel  of  the  two  boards  ap- 
pointed for  these  respective  districts  was  as  follows: 

Exemption  Board  No.  1 — Chairman,  C.  R.  Ewins,  of  Danvers ;  clerk, 
Dr.  B.  F.  Elf  rink,  of  Chenoa ;  Isaac  Murphy,  of  Leroy ;  chief  clerk,  Reube 
B.  Prothero;  assistant  clerk,  Mrs.  Edward  A.  Mott;  soldier  member,  John 
Farley ;  stenographer,  Miss  Dorothy  Mason. 

Exemption  Board  No.  2 — Chairman,  Judge  Colostin  D.  Myers,  Bloom- 
ington; secretary,  H.  M.  Murray,  Bloomington  medical  examiner,  Dr.  E. 
Mammen;  chief  clerk,  Ralph  Freese;  assistant  clerk,  Miss  Loretta  Grady; 
soldier  member,  Thomas  J.  Shanahan. 

Local  Advisory  Board — Chairman  of  board  No.  1,  Judge  J.  C.  Riley, 
of  the  country  court ;  chairman  of  city  board  No.  2,  Judge  Sain  Welty, 
of  the  circuit  court. 

Medical  Advisory  Board— Dr.  B.  F.  Elf  rink,  of  Chenoa ;  Dr.  E.  Mam- 
men, of  Bloomington ;  clerk,  Walter  P.  Prenzler. 

Instruction  Board — Capt.  C.  B.  Hamilton,  chairman. 

McLean  County  Red  Cross — At  a  meeting  of  the  Civic  League  of 
Bloomington  early  in  June,  1915,  Mrs.  N.  D.  McKinney,  president  of  the 
Woman's  Club,  presented  the  subject  of  organizing  a  Red  Cross  Chapter  in 
Bloomington.  The  suggestion  met  with  cordial  approval,  and  action  was 
taken  authorizing  the  chairman,  E.  M.  Evans,  to  appoint  a  committee  to 
take  preliminary  steps  toward  that  end.  That  evening  Dr.  E.  Mammen, 
Mrs.  G.  S.  McCurdy,  Mrs.  E.  R.  Morgan,  Mrs.  N.  D.  McKinney,  and  E.  M. 


304  History  of  McLean  County 

Evans  paid  their  membership  fee,  the  necessary  one-half  of  which  was 
sent  to  the  Red  Cross  director,  in  Chicago,  with  application  for  permission 
to  organize  a  chapter.  After  a  number  of  memberships  had  been  enrolled 
which  made  the  organization  of  a  chapter  appear  feasible,  the  committee 
appointed  by  the  Civic  League  called  a  meeting  to  be  held  at  the  public 
library  on  July  27.  At  this  meeting  a  board  of  twelve  directors  was  elected, 
Dr.  Mammen  appointed  temporary  chairman  and  Mrs.  McKinney,  tempo- 
rary secretary. 

The  officers  were  not  elected  until  the  meeting  of  Dec.  5,  1915,  when 
the  following  were  chosen:  Chairman,  Campbell  Holton;  first  vice-chair- 
man, C.  F.  Agle;  second  vice-chairman,  B.  F.  Harber;  secretary,  Alice  0. 
Smith ;  treasurer,  Frank  D.  Marquis.  Miss  Smith  served  as  secretary  until 
May,  1916,  when  she  resigned  and  was  succeeded  by  Mrs.  McKinney. 

During  May  and  June,  1916,  a  campaign  for  members  was  conducted 
under  the  leadership  of  Dr.  C.  M.  Noble.  In  July,  1916,  a  charter  mem- 
bership of  174  was  sent  to  Washington  and  a  charter  granted. 

The  chairman  and  treasurer  of  the  chapter,  Mrs.  N.  D.  McKinney, 
served  since  1915;  the  secretary  since  May,  1916;  the  two  vice-chairmen 
since  October,  1917. 

Campbell  Holton,  chairman,  president  of  Campbell  Holton  &  Co., 
wholesale  grocers.  He  has  been  prominent  in  Y.  M.  C.  A.,  the  Blooming- 
ton  Association  of  Commerce,  Rotary  Club  and  other  community  activities. 

Davis  Ewing,  vice-chairman,  president  of  the  Davis  Ewing  Concrete 
Co.,  has  been  president  of  the  Rotary  Club  and  active  in  civic  affairs. 

E.  M.  Evans,  vice-chairman,  president  of  the  Association  of  Commerce 
in  1919  and  1920;  served  two  years  as  president  of  the. Civic  League  and 
connected  with  other  community  organizations. 

F.  D.  Marquis,  treasurer,  president  of  the  People's  Bank  and  a  leading 
man  in  business  circles. 

The  personnel  of  the  county  branches  of  the  Red  Cross  were  com- 
posed of  many  of  the  leading  men  and  women  of  their  several  communities. 
Shipments  by  McLean  County  Chapter  to  Bush  Terminal  and  Central 
Division  from  May  21,  1917,  to  June,  1919: 

Surgical  dressings 331,732,  value $  11,262.68 

Hospital  garments 39,091,  value 20,152.03 

Hospital  supplies 32,106,  value 5,642.94 

Refugee  garments 7,971,  value 7,081.11 


History  of  McLean  County  305 

Comforts _       5,408,  value 1,744.05 

Knitted  articles 24,806,  value 77,256.50 

Totals   441,114,  value $123,139.31 

The  French,  Belgian-Allied  Relief  Association  carried  on  strenuous 
work  in  relief  ways  from  the  fall  of  1917,  to  March  28,  1919,  when  it  filed 
its  final  report.  The  officers  of  this  association  were  as  follows:  Presi- 
dent, Mrs.  G.  B.  Read ;  first  vice-president,  Mrs.  H.  S.  Eckhart ;  second 
vice-president,  Mrs.  A.  W.  Anderson;  secretary,  Mrs.  F.  C.  Cole;  treas- 
urer, Mrs.  W.  L.  Moore;  directors,  Mrs.  Kate  Brown,  Mrs.  R.  C.  Baldwin, 
Mrs.  Charles  Brokaw,  Mrs.  David  Davis,  Mrs.  Alonzo  Dolan,  Mrs.  C.  B. 
Detrick,  Mrs.  Ralph  D.  Fox,  Mrs.  J.  T.  Johnson,  Mrs.  Anna  B.  Wade,  Mrs. 
K.  D.  Welch,  Mrs.  Louise  Robinson. 

Liberty  Loan  Campaigns. — The  people  of  McLean  County  loaned  to 
the  federal  government  during  the  war  a  total  of  about  $11,000,000  of 
their  money  to  help  bring  ultimate  victory.  This  great  sum  was  the  pay- 
ment on  liberty  bonds  bought  by  the  people  of  the  county  during  five  dif- 
ferent drives  which  the  government  put  on  at  different  times,  averaging 
in  a  rough  way  about  six  months  apart  during  the  period  of  American 
participation  in  the  war.  This  huge  total  was  nearly  thirty  times  the 
cost  of  the  court  house  of  the  county  which  was  built  just  after  the 
great  fire. 

By  subscribing  its  portion  to  the  Victory  Loan  in  1919,  McLean 
County  did  two  things  worthy  of  its  name  and  its  august  history.  It 
oversubscribed  the  last  of  the  great  war  drives,  the  campaign  that  brought 
the  boys  home.  And  it  also  raised  a  sufficient  sum  to  make  the  total 
pledges  of  five  loans  greater  than  the  combined  quotas  of  those  loans. 
Thus  McLean  County  was  more  than  100  per  cent  in  its  financial  aid  to 
the  war.  It  defies  reproach.  It  has  maintained  his  historical  prestige 
of  sound  sense,  integrity  and  patriotism.  Here  are  the  figures  that  show 
the  financial  war  history  of  McLean  County: 

Loan  Quota  Subscription 

First   $  1,300,000  $      800,000 

Second 1,700,000  1,200,000 

Third 1,762,000  3,000,000 

Fourth 3,676,000  3,805,000 

"Victory" 2,866,900  2,885,900 


Grand  total  _  _$11,305,900  $11,690,900 

(18) 


306  History  of  McLean  County 

Food  Conservation. — To  any  one  who  read  the  newspapers  during  the 
first  few  months  of  1917,  it  was  apparent  that  when  the  United  States  de- 
clared war  on  Germany,  there  would  be  some  sort  of  organized  campaign 
for  food  conservation  in  this  country.  The  question  of  food  had  become 
critical. 

The  prompt  action  of  Bloomington  and  McLean  County  women  in 
organizing  to  meet  this  need  will  always  be  one  of  the  greatest  matters 
of  pride  to  this  county.  During  the  latter  part  of  April,  just  after  our 
declaration  of  war,  Mrs.  Spencer  Ewing  went  before  the  officers  of  the 
McLean  County  Chapter  Red  Cross,  and  offered  her  services  for  any 
work  in  food  conservation  that  might  be  taken  up.  The  offer  was  at 
once  accepted,  and  thereafter  during  the  whole  period  of  the  war  and 
reconstruction  months  that  followed,  Mrs.  Ewing  was  county  leader  in 
food  conservation. 

Throughout  the  emergency,  the  food  conservation  work  of  McLean 
County  was  done  equally  through  the  Red  Cross  committee  and  the  Wom- 
an's Committee,  C.  N.  D.,  and  reports  were  made  to  both  organizations. 

In  May,  1917,  forty-five  groups  for  the  study  of  new  problems  that 
confronted  housewives,'  were  organized. 

It  was  during  the  fall  of  1917  that  agitation  for  employment  of  a 
home  adviser  was  first  begun  here,  Mrs.  Ewing,  Mrs.  Frank  W.  Benjamin, 
and  other  leaders  in  household  science  work,  initiating  the  movement. 

A  permanent  organization  called  the  Home  Improvement  Associa- 
tion was  formed  in  April.  It  had  a  membership  of  1,500  women  from  all 
over  the  county,  each  paying  $1  per  year  toward  its  support.  The  gov- 
ernment likewise  paid  $1,500  per  year.  There  was  a  director  in  each  town- 
ship, who  stood  for  food  conservation  in  his  community.  In  June  th( 
home  adviser  began  work.  She  was  Miss  Clara  R.  Brian,  formerly  of 
San  Jose. 

Women  in  the  Service. — Of  the  women  of  McLean  County  who  were 
in  the  army  service,  either  as  attaches,  of  the  Red  Cross  or  nurses  other- 
wise, the  following  are  well  worthy  of  especial  credit  : 

(Serving  overseas) : 

Miss  Alice  O.  Smith,  Normal;  Miss  Florence  Schreiner,  Bloomington; 
Miss  Carolyn  Schertz,  Bloomington;  Miss  Ethel  Irwin,  Bloomington;  Miss 
Catherine  Smith,  Bloomington;  Miss  Fannie  E.  Woodbury,  Bloomington; 


History  of  McLean  County  307 

Miss  Virginia  Langley,  Bloomington;  Miss  Charlotte  Bender,  Blooming- 
ton;  Miss  Mary  Agnes  Burke,  Bloomington;  Miss  Mable  Brust,  Bloom- 
ington ;  Miss  Bessie  Moon,  Bloomington ;  Miss  Mary  Sheridan,  Bloomington. 

List  of  Army  nurses  and  others  who  served  in  camps  in  the  States: 

Miss  Alice  Markland,  Ft.  Sam  Houston.     Bloomington. 

Miss  Emily  Ransom.    Bloomington. 

Miss  Ruth  Maxwell,  Walter  Reid  Hosp.,  D.  C.    Bloomington. 

Miss  Charlotte  Ross,  Camp  Shelby,  Miss.    McLean,  111. 

Miss  Eva  Ely,  Camp  Shelby,  Miss.    Bloomington. 

Miss  Florence  Johnson,  Camp  Shelby,  Miss.    Normal,  111. 

Miss  Mary  Mortimore,  Camp  Shelby  and  Ft.  McHenry,  Bloomington. 

Miss  Grace  Gaines,  Ft.  Oglethorpe.    Bloomington. 

Miss  Evelyn  Worley,  Ft.  Oglethorpe.    Bloomington. 

Miss  Sarah  Wells,  Camp  Grant,  111.    Bloomington. 

Miss  Bertha  Duff,  Camp  Grant.    Bloomington. 

Miss  Anna  Miller,  Camp  Grant.    Bloomington. 

Miss  Edna  Smiley,  Camp  Grant.    Bloomington. 

Miss  Bertha  Dunn,  Camp  Grant  and  Fort  Snelling.    Lexington. 

Miss  Arne  A.  Allen,  Camp  Dix.    Bloomington. 

Miss  Margaret  O'Reilly,  Camp  Dix.    Bloomington. 

Miss  Amy  L.  Clark,  Camp  Wadsworth,  S.  C.    Bloomington. 

Miss  Myrtle  Crum,  Camp  Gordon,  Ga.    Bloomington. 

Miss  Clara  Mann,  Walter  Reid  Hosp.,  Tacoma  Park,  D.  C.  Bloom- 
ington. 

Miss  Beulah  Leuberman,  Ft.  Oglethorpe,  Ga.  and  Walter  Reid  Hospi- 
tal, D.  C.    Bloomington. 

Miss  Amelia  Hughes,  Ft.  Thomas,  Ky.    Bloomington. 

Miss  Opha  Wren,  Bloomington.    A.  E.  F. 

Miss  Margaret  Merwin,  Bloomington.    A.  E.  F. 

McLean  County  Council  of  Defense. — One  of  the  most  important 
chapters  in  the  history  of  the  World  War,  is  the  part  taken  by  the  McLean 
County  Council  of  Defense.  It  is  but  common  justice  to  pay  tribute  to 
the  patriotic  body  which  performed  its  mission  so  unobtrusively  and 
without  ostentation  and  yet  which  was  one  of  the  most  efficient  and  essen- 
tial organizations  of  the  nation.  In  the  vast  work  of  unification,  in  the 
carrying  from  Washington  to  the  people,  the  messages  and  measures  of 


308  History  of  McLean  County 

the  national  government  and  in  the  transmission  back  to  Washington  of 
the  moods  and  aspirations  of  a  people  at  war,  the  council  of  defense  sys- 
tem with  its  more  than  180,000  units  set  down  in  every  county  of  the 
country,  played  a  definite,  stirring,  and  highly  fruitful  part.  Launched 
May  2,  1917,  the  Council  of  National  Defense  forged  into  action  immedi- 
ately.   The  McLean  County  organization  was  as  follows: 

Mayor  E.  E.  Jones,  chairman;  B.  F.  Hiltabrand,  secretary;  R.  C. 
Baldwin,  John  Normile,  W.  T.  Wolcott,  D.  G.  Fitzgerald,  J.  J.  Condon, 
and  Elmo  Franklin,  directors.  This  board  appointed  the  numerous  com- 
mittees divided  by  chairmen. 

County  Food  Administration — Only  a  few  weeks  after  America's  en-, 
try  into  the  war,  the  Bloomington  Association  of  Commerce  was  asked 
by  Harry  A.  Wheeler,  Federal  Food  Administrator  for  Illinois,  to  appoint 
an  Administrator  who  should  select  a  committee  of  four  to  co-operate 
with  him  in  representing  our  Government  in  handling  all  questions  that 
might  arise  on  this  subject. 

R.  C.  Baldwin,  president  of  the  Association  of  Commerce,  went  to 
Howard  Humphreys  along  in  September  of  1917,  stating  that  as  he  was 
looked  upon  as  the  dean  of  the  grocery  business  in  this  section,  he  felt 
that  Mr.  Humphreys  should  accept  this  appointment,  which  he  immedi- 
ately did,  wiring  Mr.  Wheeler  that  he  would  give  it  the  best  attention 
possible  and  be  very  careful  in  the  selection  of  the  Conference  Committee. 
Accordingly  he  made  the  following  appointments  of  men  who,  though 
very  busy  in  their  affairs,  accepted  them  and  pledged  their  support  and 
co-operation : 

President  David  Felmley,  of  Normal  University. 

John  J.  Morrissey,  Attorney. 

D.  O.  Thompson,  County  Farm  Advisor. 

Mrs.  J.  M.  Patterson,  President  of  the  Woman's  Union  Label  League. 

A  few  weeks  later,  Mr.  Humphreys  was  asked  to  become  a  member 
of  the  State  District  Board.  J.  J.  Thomassen  was  appointed  county  food 
administrator  for  McLean  County.  A  county  food  administration  was 
completed  in  February,  1918.  After  a  few  weeks  of  very  active  service, 
Mr.  Thomassen  was  obliged  to  resign  the  position,  and  Mr.  Hal  M.  Stone 
accepted  the  appointment  of  County  Food  Administrator.  Charles  O'Mal- 
ley  gave  him  very  valuable  assistance  in  handling  one  of  the  most  im- 


History  of  McLean  County  309 

portant  features  at  that  time,  the  question  of  sugar  distribution,  and 
regulations  of  the  quantity  to  be  sold.  In  this  respect,  Mr.  O'Malley  was 
acing  as  County  Food  Administrator  and  was  sworn  in  as  such. 

These  arrangements  continued  until  December,  1918,  when  practi- 
cally all  restrictions  were  withdrawn  and  the  activities  of  the  Food  Ad- 
ministration ceased. 

Fuel  Administration — Restrictions  on  the  use  of  fuel  became  more 
drastic  from  time  to  time  during  the  late  fall  and  early  winter  of  1917-18. 
The  climax  was  reached  when  the  order  was  issued  for  the  closing  of  all 
manufacturing  plants  except  those  making  food  supplies  for  a  period  of 
five  days,  from  Jan.  18  to  22,  inclusive,  of  1918.  At  the  same  time  the 
order  was  issued  that  all  retail  stores  except  food  stores  should  be  closed 
one  day  each  week  for  a  period  of  five  weeks.  Monday  was  chosen  as 
closing  day. 

With  the  work  of  the  strenuous  winter  of  1917-18  past,  Mayor  Jones 
resigned  from  the  chairmanship  of  the  local  fuel  committee,  and  Spencer 
Ewing,  who  had  served  as  secretary,  was  named  in  his  place.  His  work 
in  charge  of  the  local  situation  continued  through  the  spring  of  1918,  and 
plans  were  outlined  for  a  campaign  among  the  people  for  the  next  season 
which  would  prevent  the  fuel  shortage  of  the  previous  winter.  On  May  1, 
1918,  Mr.  Ewing  was  called  to  Chicago  as  director  of  state  requirements 
in  the  Illinois  office  of  the  U.  S.  fuel  administration.  He  served  in  that 
capacity  until  August  1  of  that  year,  being  in  charge  of  fuel  distribution 
for  the  State  of  Illinois  outside  of  Chicago. 

Bertram  A.  Franklin  was  named  as  head  of  the  McLean  County  fuel 
administration  when  Mr.  Ewing  was  called  to  Chicago.  He  continued 
the  work  until  and  after  the  close  of  the  war,  for  the  signing  of  the  armis- 
tice did  not  end  the  existence  of  the  fuel  administration.  Mr.  Franklin 
finally  received  his  instructions  in  January,  1919,  to  close  his  office  on 
Feb.  1,  which  was  accordingly  done,  and  the  fuel  administration  passed 
out  of  existence. 

Maj.  Gen.  James  G.  Harbord — It  was  an  honor  to  McLean  County  in 
connection  with  the  World  War  that  one  of  the  men  highest  in  the  coun- 
cils of  the  military  expedition  in  Europe  was  a  man  who  had  his  birth  and 
youth  in  this  county,  and  who  retained  his  friendship  and  acquaintances 
here,  returning  for  a  visit  in  person  after  he  returned  victorious  from  the 


310 


History  of  McLean  county 


world  struggle.  He  was  Gen.  James  G.  Harbord,  who  went  to  Europe  in 
1917  as  chief  of  staff  to  Gen.  John  J.  Pershing,  the  commander  in  chief 
of  the  A.  E.  F.  and  who  later  became  the  chief  of  the  American  Service 
of  Supply,  which  kept  the  lines  of  fighting  men  fed  with  munitions  and 
rations  in  the  great  campaigns  which  they  carried  on  in  the  summer  and 
fall  of  1918. 

General  Harbord  was  born  in  Blooming  Grove  Township  in  1866.  His 
parents  were  Mr.  and  Mrs.  George  Harbord,  well  known  McLean  County 
residents  a  half  century  ago.  The  family  later  moved  to  Saybrook,  thence 
to  Missouri  and  then  to  Kansas,  where  General  Harbord  graduated  from 
the  Kansas  State  Agricultural  College  in  1886. 

During  his  life  in  McLean  County,  General  Harbord  attended  the  Irv- 
ing school  in  Bloomington. 

The  Four-Minute  Men — The  committee  of  public  information  at  Wash- 
ington on  Oct.  15,  1918,  appointed  C.  B.  Hughes,  a  well-known  attorney, 
as  chairman  of  the  Four-Minute  Men  of  McLean  County. 

Medals  for  making  more  than  10  speeches  during  Liberty  Loan 
Campaigns  were  given  to  James  C.  Riley,  Edmund  O'Connell  and  C.  B. 
Hughes.  C.  B.  Hughes  spoke  142  different  times  in  county  during  war 
on  war  subjects. 


CHAPTER  XXVI. 


AMERICAN  LEGION. 


ORGANIZED  HERE— NAMED  IN  HONOR  OF  LOUIS  E.  DAVIS— FIRST  OFFICERS — 
INCREASE  IN  MEMBERSHIP — STATE  HEADQUARTERS  IN  BLOOMINGTON — 
OFFICERS — WOMEN'S  AUXILIARY — POSTS  IN  McLEAN  COUNTY — WORLD  WAR 
VETERANS. 

Within  fifteen  months  after  the  armistice  in  1918,  when  the  service 
men  and  women  had  returned  from  their  war  service,  there  were  many 
posts  of  the  American  Legion  organized  in  McLean  County.  The  idea  of 
this  organization  had  its  inception  with  a  group  of  U.  S.  army  officers  in 
Paris  in  February,  1919,  when  they  met  to  study  the  problems  of  the 
return  of  the  soldiers  to  civil  life. 

Following  the  caucus  of  veterans  in  Paris,  France,  early  in  1917,  a 
similar  caucus  was  held  in  St.  Louis,  Mo.  Thomas  Fitch  Harwood,  of 
Bloomington,  was  selected  as  delegate  to  the  first  caucus  in  this  country. 
Immediately  after  his  appointment  he  called  for  service  men  of  this 
county  to  accompany  him  to  St.  Louis.  Ben  S.  Rhodes  and  R.  M.  O'Con- 
nell  attended  the  meeting.  The  aim  and  purpose  of  the  American  Legion 
was  outlined  and  drawn  into  a  temporary  constitution,  which  was  adopted. 

The  name  "Louis  E.  Davis"  was  selected  by  a  committee  composed 
of  T.  F.  Harwood,  James  D.  Foster  and  Oscar  G.  Hoose.  Their  report 
included  the  following:  "He  was  the  first  man  of  his  class  in  camp  to 
qualify  as  a  reserve  military  aviator,  and  on  the  day  of  his  death  was 
then  completing  his  bombing  course,  at  that  time  the  most  advanced  in 
aviation.  At  the  time  of  his  death  he  was  preparing  for  overseas  service. 
The  remains  of  Louis  E.  Davis  were  buried  with  military  honors  in  the 

311 


312  History  of  McLean  County 

Evergreen  cemetery,  Bloomington.  It  is  fitting  and  proper  that  this  organ- 
ization gathering  within  its  ranks  those  who  gave  and  sacrificed  for  the 
freedom  of  country  and  mankind  should  honor  itself  by  the  choice  of  such 
a  name." 

The  first  officers  of  the  organization  elected  Jan.  15,  1920,  were:  Past 
Commander,  Charles  P.  Kane;  Commander,  Harry  L.  Howell;  Vice-Com- 
mander, Thomas  Ivan  Costigan;  second  Vice-Commander,  Miss  Grace 
Gaines;  Chaplain,  Rev.  William  B.  Hindman;  Adjutant,  James  D.  Foster; 
Sergeant-at-Arms,  Albert  S.  Coomer;  Executive  Committee:  Charles  P. 
Kane,  F.  Carlyle  Willey,  Oscar  G.  Hoose,  James  Owen,  Len  L.  Hogan  and 
John  J.  O'Connor.  In  a  later  meeting  Ralph  Morath  was  elected  finance 
officer.     William  B.  Geneva  was  elected  historian. 

The  Louis  E.  Davis  Post,  American  Legion  of  Bloomington  which 
occupies  spacious  quarters  in  the  McBarnes'  Memorial  building,  is  the 
largest  post  in  Illinois,  having  a  roster  of  about  1,000. 

The  increase  in  membership  of  the  Louis  E.  Davis  Post  is  the  result  of 
the  steadily  growing  current  of  sentiment  in  favor  of  the  Legion  in 
this  locality,  which  began  in  1919  when  Charles  P.  Kane  was  appointed 
temporary  commander,  and  continued  to  increase  throughout  the  admin- 
istration of  Dr.  Harry  L.  Howell  who  served  for  two  years.  His  leader- 
ship was  supplemented  by  that  of  Fitch  Harwood  in  1922.  It  has  been 
through  the  ceaseless  and  united  effort  of  the  entire  membership  that 
the  membership  campaign  has  been  brought  to  such  a  sussessful  cul- 
mination. 

During  the  past  three  years,  a  great  amount  of  effort,  particularly 
through  the  service  department,  has  been  made  in  taking  care  of  the 
claims  against  the  government  for  compensation  insurance,  bonuses,  voca- 
tional training  and  hospitalization  for  unfortunate  members  and  also  for 
ex-service  men  generally  who  happened  to  be  in  need. 

During  this  period  of  time,  although  no  record  has  been  kept,  from 
requests  and  claims  have  been  recorded  and  thousands  of  dollars  and 
innumerable  cases  of  relief  have  been  brought  to  the  unfortunates  through 
the  efforts  of  the  post. 

Along  similar  lines  the  Post  has  expended  thousands  of  dollars  which 
it  has  been  able  to  amass  through  the  good  will  of  the  people,  in  render- 
ing service  of  various  kinds,  such  as  medicine,  food,  clothing,  rent,  etc., 
for  ex-service  men  generally  who  have  been  found  to  be  in  need.    The  Post 


History  of  McLean  County  313 

has  endeavored  to  exercise  care  and  caution  in  the  distribution  of  this 
fund  and  have  assisted  only  those  who  were  really  deserving. 

The  McLean  County  Board  of  Supervisors  have  generously  co-oper- 
ated, setting  aside  a  fund  annually  for  the  assistance  necessary  in  such 
cases.  Hundreds  of  transients  who  I  ecame  stranded  here  have  been 
helped  from  time  to  time. 

One  of  the  outstanding  achievements  of  the  Post  during  the  past 
year  has  been  the  acquisition  of  a  burial  ground  at  the  Park  Hill  Ceme- 
tery which  has  been  contracted  by  the  Fost  for  the  sum  of  approximately 
$2,300.  The  site  is  located  at  the  southeast  corner  of  the  cemetery  and 
will  be  set  apart  exclusively  for  the  bursal  of  ex-service  men,  who  at  the 
time  of  their  death,  are  eligible  to  membership  in  the  Legion.  The  burial 
space  will  accommodate  303  graves  and  a  site  for  a  monument.  It  is  lo- 
cated in  full  view  of  the  Illinois  boulevard  and  is  a  most  beautiful  spot. 
Five  bodies  are  already  buried  there. 

The  Kiwanis  Club  of  Bloomington  voted  to  turn  over  the  proceeds 
of  their  summer  chautauqua  toward  the  purchase  of  this  burial  ground. 
The  site  is  set  apart  from  the  rest  of  the  cemetery  by  means  of  parkways 
and  shrubbery. 

The  local  Post  of  the  American  Legion  was,  in  a  large  measure,  re- 
sponsible for  the  culmination  of  the  wishes  of  John  McBarnes  in  the 
erection  of  the  McBarnes  Memorial.  It  was  through  the  activities  of  the 
Post  that  the  plan  was  presented  to  Mr.  ^  iarnes  which  resulted  in  the 
present  structure.  The  lease  for  the  site  /as  secured  for  the  supervisors 
by  the  Post  on  condition  that  a  building  t  ,'itable  to  the  desires  of  Mr.  Mc- 
Barnes be  erected  thereon. 

During  the  regime  of  Mr.  Harwood,  the  state  department  of  the 
American  Legion  of  Illinois  was  persuaded  to  change  its  headquarters 
from  Springfield  to  Bloomington  and  this  arrangement  was  subsequently 
made  permanent  by  constitutional  amendment.  The  state  department 
and  the  local  post  have  co-operated  in  every  way  possible  for  the  benefit 
of  the  organization.  The  local  post  by  its  fair  dealing  secured  the  good 
will  and  hearty  co-operation  of  all  the  civic  bodies  and  the  public  gener- 
ally and  has  always  maintained  a  high  standard  of  ideals  in  all  their 
dealings.  The  Post  always  endeavored  to  be  fair  with  the  masses  as  well 
as  the  classes  and  in  this  way  has  merited  the  good  will  of  all. 


314  History  of  McLean  County 

The  local  Post  was  also  active  in  getting  the  $50,000  appropriation 
for  the  hospital  at  the  Soldiers'  Orphans'  Home.  The  Post  also  adopted 
and  are  sponsoring  two  troops  of  Boy  Scouts  at  the  Home. 

The  officers  of  the  Post  are:  Commander,  Oscar  J.  Hoose;  First 
Vice-Commander,  Edward  A.  Donnelly;  Second  Vice-Commander,  Cath- 
erine S.  Brooks;  Finance  Officer,  C.  E.  Dimmett;  Adjutant,  Paul  Gott- 
schalk;  Service  Officers,  Harry  Riddle,  Wayne  Townley,  H.  A.  Rhodee; 
Executive  Committee:  Charles  P.  Kane,  H.  L.  Howell,  T.  F.  Harwood, 
C.  E.  Yeager,  Dudley  Smith,  Wayne  Townley,  W.  C.  Murphy,  E.  A.  Don- 
nelly, Ben  S.  Rhodes  and  T.  D.  Carroll. 

The  present  Commander  is  Kay  win  Kennedy,  and  the  present  Adju- 
tant is  Erwin  Albee. 

First  permanent  officers  of  the  Women's  Auxiliary  to  the  Louis  E. 
Davis  Post  56  were:  President,  Mrs.  Irma  Greiner;  Vice-President,  Mrs. 
Thomas  B.  Foster;  Secretary,  Miss  Ina  Rhodes;  Treasurer,  Mrs.  Louis 
Wollrab ;  Executive  Committee,  Mrs.  J.  A.  Goodwin,  chairman ;  Mrs.  Harry 
Howell,  Miss  Winifred  Elliott,  Mrs.  W.  W.  Gailey. 

Numerous  other  posts  of  the  American  Legion  later  came  into  being 
after  the  first  post  formation  in  Bloomington,  including  Ruel  Neal,  Le- 
Roy;  Erwin  Martensen  Post,  Anchor;  Ben  Roth  Post,  Chenoa;  Elmo  F. 
Hill  Post,  Lexington ;  Benedict-Crutchley  Post,  McLean ;  David  Humphrey 
Daniel  Post,  Saybrook;  Grant  Post,  Bellflower,  and  Saybrook  Post  427, 
Saybrook. 

Committees  from  the  Louis  E.  Davis  Post  56,  organized  the  Steven- 
son-Lewis Post  556,  of  the  American  Legion,  as  the  second  post  in  Mc- 
Lean County,  which  was  solely  for  former  service  persons  of  the  colored 
race.  Lincoln  Page  was  named  as  temporary  chairman,  and  started  the 
organization  safely  on  its  course. 

Ruel  Neal  Post  was  named  in  honor  of  Ruel  Neal,  the  first  LeRoy 
boy  to  lose  his  life  in  the  war,  he  being  killed  in  action,  in  a  front  line 
trench  on  the  Meuse  river  on  October  2,  1918.  The  officers  of  the  Post 
first  elected  were:  Commander,  Dr.  0.  M.  Thompson;  Vice-Commander, 
Herman  L.  Thomas;  Adjutant,  R.  E.  Kimler;  Finance  Officer,  Miles  C. 
Grizzelle;  Chaplain,  Rev.  H.  R.  Browne;  Sergeant-at-Arms,  Charles  Bane. 
The  present  officers  of  Ruel  Neal  Post  are :  Commander,  Dr.  Owen  Thomp- 
son; Adjutant,  J.  K.  Kincaid. 


History  of  McLean  County  315 

David  Humphrey  Daniels  Post,  named  in  honor  of  the  first  soldier 
from  Saybrook  to  give  up  his  life  in  the  war,  had  the  following  officers: 
Commander,  Cecil  Rhodes  Hudson ;  Vice-Commander,  Fred  G.  Cary ;  Treas- 
urer, Roy  Return  Cheney;  Adjutant,  Ora  Francis  LaTeer.  The  present 
Commander  is  Fred  G.  Gary;  Adjutant,  Earl  Crotinger. 

The  organization  of  Ben  Roth  Post  No.  234,  took  place  at  Chenoa  in 
May,  1919.  It  was  named  in  honor  of  Ben  Roth,  a  Chenoa  soldier  who 
died  in  France.  There  are  about  sixty-five  members  of  this  Post,  and 
they  have  been  active  in  promoting  the  interests  of  the  soldiers,  giving 
several  entertainments,  maintaining  teams  in  athletic  sports  and  other 
activities:  The  officers  were:  Commander,  Pierre  Turck;  Vice-Com- 
mander, Frank  Hogan;  Adjutant,  Calvin  R.  Gentes.  The  present  Com- 
mander is  Dr.  L.  V.  Daniels;  Adjutant,  Joseph  Watchinski. 

Erwin  Martensen  Post  No.  164,  at  Anchor  was  named  in  honor  of 
a  soldier  from  that  community  who  was  killed  in  action.  The  post  is 
one  of  the  newer  ones,  being  organized  in  1920.  The  officers  are:  Com- 
mander, Henry  L.  Simpson ;  Service  Officer,  John  A.  Schmidt ;  Finance 
Office,  Joe  Garrett;  Adjutant,  Albert  Brandt.  The  present  Commander 
is  Arthur  Gantz;  Adjutant,  August  Brandt. 

Burger-Benedict  Post  No.  973,  of  the  American  Legion,  was  formed 
at  McLean  at  a  meeting  held  on  Feb.  26,  1920.  It  was  named  from  Dewey 
Burger  and  Ernest  Benedict,  two  McLean  boys  who  were  killed  in  battle 
in  France.  The  officers  elected  were:  Commander,  C.  R.  Van  Ness; 
Vice-Commander,  Ray  A.  Bowers;  Past  Commander,  Ansel  Stubblefield; 
Adjutant,  Grant  V.  Wilcox;  Finance  Officer,  Martin  W.  Hildebrandt;  Ser- 
geant-at-Arms,  Otto  Humble ;  Service  Office,  George  N.  Snyder ;  Historian, 
George  Benedict;  Chaplain,  Dan  McFarland;  Athletic  Officer,  Harry  Mat- 
thews. At  present  the  Commander  is  Lyle  E.  Wilcox;  Adjutant,  Martin 
W.  Hildabrant. 

A  post  was  organized  at  Colfax  in  June,  1920,  and  was  named  the 
Davis-Kerber  Post  in  honor  of  Bernard  Davis  of  Martin  Township  who 
was  killed  in  action,  and  Albert  Kerber,  who  died  of  pneumonia  in  France. 
The  officers  elected  were  as  follows:  Commander,  Reid  Horney;  Vice- 
Commander,  Fred  Scholl;  Finance  Officer  and  Adjutant,  C.  R.  Steven- 
son; Sergeant-at-Arms,  Edsell  B.  Downey.  The  Commander  in  1923  was 
Smith  McHatton;  Adjutant,  Roy  Stevens. 


316  History  of  McLean  County 

Gridley  Post  No.  218  was  organized  in  1919  with  the  following  offi- 
cers: Post  Commander,  Lynn  C.  Sieberns;  Adjutant,  Everett  F.  Kent; 
Sergeant-at-Arms,  John  D.  Rediger.  The  present  Commander  is  Ever- 
ett F.  Kent,  the  Adjutant,  McKinley  Benedict. 

Elmo  Hill  Post  at  Lexington  is  among  the  larger  and  more  active 
posts  in  McLean  County,  with  a  big  membership  and  enterprising  officers. 
This  post  has  engineered  several  affairs  for  the  good  of  the  service  men 
of  Lexington  and  the  general  public.  The  present  Commander  is  Elmer 
J.  Roy;  the  Adjutant,  A.  E.  Pritt. 

Danvers  Post  is  well  represented  with  the  service  men  of  that  com- 
munity. The  Commander  is  George  A.  Kraus,  and  the  Adjutant,  Morris 
Rockwell. 

Grant  Post  No.  202,  at  Bellflower,  was  named  in  honor  of  Earl  and 
Erwin  Grant,  sons  of  Richard  Grant,  both  of  whom  gave  up  their  lives 
in  the  war.  Earl  died  in  Jefferson  Barracks,  and  Erwin  died  in  France 
after  the  close  of  the  war,  when  he  was  returning  with  his  regiment  from 
Germany.  The  first  officers  of  the  post  were:  Commander,  S.  W.  Haig- 
ler;  Senior  Vice-Commander,  J.  Warner  Carlyle;  Finance,  A.  G.  Gooch; 
Adjutant,  B.  F.  Hinshaw;  Service  Officer,  DeWitt  R.  Gooch,  III;  Ser- 
geant-at-Arms, John  Jensen.  The  present  Commander  is  Levi  Barnhart; 
the  Adjutant,  Harry  Shornick,  Jr. 

The  Witt-Webber-Carroll  Post  at  Arrowsmith  was  named  after  James 
Carroll,  Warren  K.  Webber,  and  Charles  T.  Witt,  all  Arrowsmith  boys 
who  lost  their  lives  in  the  war.  The  present  principal  officers  are:  Com- 
mander, Elmer  Paxton;  Adjutant,  Glenn  Raney. 

Corporal  Carl  Miller  Post  at  Heyworth  was  organized  in  1920  and 
flourished  for  a  few  years,  but  at  this  writing  it  was  not  active.  The  of- 
ficers at  its  last  election  were:  Commander,  Elmer  L.  Bell;  Adjutant, 
Donald  Cruikshank. 

Cropsey  Post  was  named  for  William  F.  Barnes,  who  died  in  the  war. 
The  present  officers  are:  Commander,  Meedie  Buck;  Adjutant,  Harvey 
L.  Meeker. 

Redd-Williams  Post  in  Bloomington  was  made  up  of  colored  ex-service 
men,  and  the  officers  are:  Paul  Turlington,  Commander;  Taylor  Cisco, 
Ad  j  utant. 

There  was  organized  in  Bloomington  during  the  winter  and  spring 
of  1920  a  local  post  of  World  War  Veterans,  an  organization  composed 


History  of  McLean  County  317 

of  service  men  as  its  name  indicates.  It  was  named  the  Hauptman, 
Morgan,  Conley  Post,  from  the  name  of  three  Bloomington  men  who 
had  been  slain  in  battle.  These  men  were  Joseph  A.  Hauptman,  David 
Thomas  Morgan,  and  Eugene  Conley.  The  first  list  of  officers  for  the  post 
were  these:  Commander,  W.  F.  Witty;  Senior  Vice-Commander,  Robert 
Switzer;  Junior  Vice-Commander,  E.  P.  Downey;  Chaplain,  Lee  Crosland; 
Adjutant,  William  A.  Sammon;  Quartermaster,  Arthur  Garbe.  The  board 
of  trustees  were:  William  J.  Hull,  J.  P.  Murray  and  Wade  H.  Fielder. 
The  post  holds  monthly  meetings. 


CHAPTER  XXVII. 


HOSPITALS  AND  CHARITABLE  INSTITUTIONS. 


ST.  JOSEPH'S  HOSPITAL—  BROKAW  HOSPITAL— MENNON1TE  SANITARIUM — JESSA- 
MINE WITHERS  HOME — VICTORY  HALL — DAY  NURSERY — HOME  FOR  COL- 
ORED CHILDREN— THE  BABYFOLD — GIRLS'  INDUSTRIAL  HOME — FAIRVIEW 
SANITORIUMI— SALVATION   ARMY — BUREAU   OF   SOCIAL   SERVICE. 

McLean  County  is  noted  for  its  number  and  the  quality  of  its  elee- 
mosynary institutions,  which  show  the  care  of  the  portion  of  the  popula- 
tion who  are  self-supporting*  for  that  smaller  portion  which  is  afflicted 
with  disease  or  suffers  from  misfortune  and  disaster.  Chief  among  such 
institutions  are  the  two  large  hospitals  in  Bloomington,  one  of  them  under 
the  auspices  of  the  Catholic  Church,  and  the  other  under  the  patronage 
and  management  of  non-sectarian  organization,  although  mostly  com- 
posed of  representatives  of  the  Protestant  churches. 

St.  Joseph's  Hospital,  located  in  the  southwestern  part  of  Blooming- 
ton,  occupies  a  tract  of  two  blocks  of  land,  and  the  building  as  it  now 
stands  is  the  result  of  several  additions  made  to  a  large  central  structure* 
which  was  the  original  hospital.  The  hospital  project  was  started  in  the 
fall  of  1879,  when  Rev.  Mother  Frances  and  Sister  Augustine  from  St. 
Francis  Hospital  in  Peoria  came  to  Bloomington  to  look  over  the  ground 
with  a  view  to  establishing  a  hospital  here.  They  met  with  Dr.  Sweeney 
and  Dr.  C.  R.  Parke,  who  went  with  them  from  house  to  house  for  funds. 
The  money  was  secured  to  make  the  first  payment  on  the  home  of  Sam- 
uel W.  Waddle,  which  was  purchased  for  a  nucleus  of  a  hospital.  On 
March  22,  1889,  the  hospital  opened  with  Sister  Augustine  and  Sister 
Joseph  Aloysia  in  charge.     The  medical  staff  first  appointed  consisted  of 

318 


History  of  McLean  County 


319 


J*#«««S| 


320  History  of  McLean  County 

Drs.  Sweeney,  Parke,  A.  Luce,  Worrell,  Lee  Smith,  Elder  and  Wunderlich. 
In  two  years  the  first  unit  of  the  present  building  was  erected,  costing 
$22,000.  In  1889  the  second  wing  was  built,  costing  $11,000.  In  1885 
the  first  operating  room  was  created  and  named  for  Dr.  Parke,  and  in 
1899  the  beautiful  chapel  was  erected.  In  March,  1905,  the  twenty-fifth 
anniversary  of  the  hospital  was  celebrated.  Up  to  that  time  more  than 
5,000  patients  had  been  treated  in  the  institution,  of  whom  1,672  were 
charity  cases. 

The  last  and  perhaps  the  greatest  addition  made  to  the  hospital  was 
that  of  the  year  1922,  when  $60,000  was  expended  in  building  a  large 
wing  to  the  west,  fronting  on  Morris  Avenue,  which  makes  a  western 
front  for  the  institution  and  adds  to  its  impressive  appearance.  This 
newer  structure  is  five  stories  in  height,  and  it  includes  a  modern  operat- 
ing room  with  every  known  facility  for  the  latest  surgical  treatments. 
St.  Joseph's  Hospital  now  represents  a  total  investment  of  nearly  a  half 
million  dollars.  The  medical  faculty  of  the  hospital  includes  many  of  the 
best  known  physicians  and  surgeons  in  the  county.  The  hospital  takes 
care  not  alone  of  those  who  come  to  it  with  ability  to  pay  for  a  portion 
of  the  cost  of  their  treatment,  but  it  also  receives  some  who  are  abso- 
lutely without  means.  For  instance,  in  the  years  of  its  existence  it  has 
housed,  fed  and  given  medical  attention  to  scores  of  men  and  women  who 
otherwise  would  have  had  to  go  to  the  county  farm  to  spend  their  last 
days. 

Brokaw  Hospital — In  May,  1893,  there  was  organized  in  Bloomington 
a  society  for  the  establishment  and  maintenance  of  a  Protestant  hospital, 
the  only  hospital  then  in  the  city  or  county  being  the  one  under  the  direc- 
tion of  the  Catholic  Church.  Subscriptions  to  the  amount  of  $5,000  were 
pledged  and  in  part  collected,  and  an  option  obtained  on  a  certain  piece  of 
property  in  the  city  as  a  start  on  the  hospital.  The  house  was  found  to 
be  unsuitable  for  the  purpose,  and  the  project  was  allowed  to  lapse  for 
the  time  being. 

In  1895  some  of  the  doctors  in  Bloomington  and  Normal  organized 
to  found  a  hospital,  and  secured  an  option  on  a  tract  of  land  just  inside 
the  corporate  limits  of  the  town  of  Normal,  located  on  Franklin  Avenue 
at  the  corner  of  Virginia  Avenue.  This  is  the  present  location  of  the  hos- 
pital known  as  Brokaw  Hospital,  a  large  and  modern  institution.     The 


History  of  McLean  County 


321 


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322  History  of  McLean  County 

earlier  organization  then  turned  over  to  this  newer  society  what  funds 
it  had  and  its  pledges  so  far  as  renewable.  By  1896  the  original  or  cen- 
tral building  was  erected  and  opened  for  patients.  The  hospital  had  been 
turned  over  for  management  to  the  Mennonite  Deaconess  Nurses,  under 
the  charge  of  Rev.  Mr.  Sprunger,  and  the  hospital  was  first  called  the 
Deaconess  Memorial  Hospital.  In  this  form  it  was  continued  until  Au- 
gust, 1897,  when  it  was  taken  over  by  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Deaconess 
society  of  Chicago.  With  comparatively  meager  facilities  and  a  small 
staff,  the  hospital  was  operated  successfully  under  the  Deaconess  man- 
agement until  the  year  1901,  when  it  was  the  recipient  of  a  large  bene- 
faction from  I.  Abraham  Brokaw,  at  which  time  the  name  was  changed 
to  Brokaw  Hospital  and  its  management  turned  over  to  an  incorporated 
society  for  that  purpose. 

Mr.  Brokaw  was  one  of  the  leading  characters  of  McLean  County  in 
its  early  days.  He  came  here  when  land  was  cheap  and  started  a  wagon 
and  plowmaking  shop,  which  grew  to  prosperous  proportions  for  those 
times.  Having  become  interested  in  the  charitable  work  of  the  Deaconess 
Hospital,  when  he  sold  the  building  where  his  plow  works  had  been  lo- 
cated for  many  years,  he  created  a  trust  fund  of  $30,000  for  the  use  of 
the  hospital.  At  that  time  the  name  of  the  hospital  was  changed  to 
Brokaw,  and  this  name  was  carved  in  the  stone  capping  over  the  main 
entrance.  When  Mr.  Brokaw  died  in  1905,  he  willed  to  the  trustees  of  the 
hospital  a  fund  amounting  to  $200,000,  and  a  large  and  rich  farm  located 
in  Dale  Township.  This  endowment  fund  placed  the  hospital  on  a  more 
substantial  basis  than  it  had  ever  before  been.  A  third  building  was 
erected,  attached  to  the  others  on  the  south.  This  structure  was  designed 
with  the  very  latest  ideas  in  hospital  architecture,  and  included  an  operat- 
ing room  which  was  the  very  latest  word  in  such  equipment.  An  X-ray 
room  of  the  most  modern  design  was  also  included. .  The  Brokaw  endow- 
ment yields  an  annual  income  of  considerable  size,  although  not  enough 
to  meet  the  expenses  of  the  institution. 

A  number  of  the  leading  business  and  professional  men  of  Blooming- 
ton  and  Normal  have  been  untiring  in  their  efforts  to  build,  equip  and 
maintain  this  institution  on  the  very  highest  plane.  Among  the  early 
loyal  supporters  was  Dr.  J.  L.  White  who  served  as  president  of  the  medi- 
cal staff  until  his  death  in  1915. 


History  of  McLean  County  323 

C.  P.  Soper,  for  many  years  one  of  Bloomington's  most  public  spirited 
and  successful  business  men  was  president  of  the  board  for  seven  years, 
and  it  was  largely  through  his  personal  attention  and  executive  ability 
that  the  hospital  was  carried  through  one  of  its  most  critical  periods  and 
its  splendid  growth  and  permanence  were  made.  Mr.  Soper  passed  away 
in  Los  Angeles,  Cal.,  January,  1916. 

In  1909  Dr.  N.  K.  McCormick,  of  Normal,  was  elected  president  of 
the  board  and  served  most  efficiently  until  his  death  in  1919. 

Although  not  in  robust  health  there  was  hardly  a  day  in  the  year  that 
Dr.  McCormick  did  not  visit  the  hospital  and  show  his  deep  interest 
in  its  affairs. 

He  gave  much  time  and  study  to  the  plans  of  the  new  fire-proof 
building  also  to  issuing  and  marketing  the  bonds  which  made  the  build- 
ing possible.  From  the  time  of  the  organization  of  the  hospital  until  his 
death,  in  1919,  Dr.  William  E.  Guthrie  was  one  of  the  hospital's  most 
active  supporters  and  for  five  years  of  this  time  was  Medical  Director. 
Much  of  the  success  of  the  hospital  in  its  whole  history  was  due  to  Dr. 
Guthrie's  skill,  energy,  and  devotion. 

Brokaw  Hospital  should  not  be  considered  strictly  a  Bloomington 
and  Normal  institution.  It  receives  patients  from  any  locality,  and  its 
records  show  an  increasing  patronage  each  year  by  people  who  live  in  the 
country  and  small  Illinois  towns  who  wish  to  avail  themselves  of  this 
institution  for  medical  or  surgical  treatment. 

In  January,  1902,  the  directors  of  Brokaw  Hospital  established  a 
training  school  for  nurses  to  be  conducted  in  connection  with  the  hospital. 
The  school,  incorporated  under  the  title  of  the  Brokaw  Hospital  School  for 
Nurses,  offers  to  women  desirous  of  becoming  professional  nurses,  a  course 
of  practical  and  theoretical  instruction.  The  practical  knowledge  is  gained 
by  actual  care  of  patients,  under  the  supervision  of  the  superintendent 
and  her  assistants. 

Graduate  nurses  are  in  charge  of  the  following  departments:  House- 
keeping, Operating  Rooms,  Floor  Work,  Night  Duty  and  District  Nursing. 

The  superintendent  has  immediate  charge  of  the  Training  School, 
subject  to  the  authority  of  the  House  Committee  of  the  hospital.  The 
curriculum  has  been  lengthened  to  three  years,  thus  fully  meeting  the  re- 
quirements of  the  State  Registration  Board  for  Nurses.    During  the  year 


324 


History  of  McLean  County 


1909,  a  separate  building  was  erected  for  a  Nurses'  Home.  This  provides 
for  the  needs  and  recreation  of  the  nurses  when  off  duty  and  offers,  besides 
the  necessary  home  comforts,  many  of  its  pleasures. 

Miss  Lula  J.  Justis  has  been  the  resident  superintendent  of  Brokaw 
Hospital  since  1908,  and  she  has  managed  the  institution  with  noted 
ability  and  general  satisfaction.  The  first  superintendent  after  the  reor- 
ganization of  the  hospital  and  its  accession  from  the  order  of  Deacon- 
esses, was  Miss  Carrie  S.  Flatt,  who  was  in  charge  for  about  six  years. 
Miss  Flatt  was  the  person  mainly  responsible  for  the  organization  of  the 
training  school  for  nurses.  Miss  Flatt,  shortly  after  her  resignation, 
was  married  to  L.  S.  Rupert,  a  well-known  Bloomington  citizen.  Under 
the  management  of  Miss  Justus,  many  notable  changes  have  been  made, 
including  the  addition  of  two  of  the  modern  additions  to  the  buildings  and 
an  entire  revolution  in  the  internal  management. 

Mennonite  Sanitarium  and  Training  School. — Since  history  is  in  pro- 
portion to  events,  and  events,  in  turn,  in  proportion  to  time,  the  Mennonite 
Sanitarium  has  a  comparatively  short  record.  Nevertheless  it  perhaps 
would  be  fitting  in  passing,  to  briefly  review  the  origin  of  the  Mennonite 
Sanitarium. 

For  a  number  of  years,  it  was  the  conviction  of  a  few  of  the  leaders  of 
the  Mennonite  Church,  that  the  church  ought  to  do  more  to  meet  the  needs 
of  the  sick  and  suffering..  These  convictions  with  a  growing  interest  led 
to  the  organization  of  the  Mennonite  Sanitarium  Association  on  the  23d 
day  of  January,  1919,  with  the  following  named  Board  of  Directors:  Rev. 
E.  Troyer,  Rev.  J.  H.  King,  Rev.  John  Kinsinger,  Rev.  Ben  Rupp  and  Rev. 
Allen  Miller. 

The  Association  immediately  purchased  the  Harber  property  located 
at  1308  N.  Main  Sreet,  Bloomington,  111.  This  building  being  a  large  resi- 
dence property,  was  remodeled  and  temporarily  fitted  for  hospital  use. 
The  first  patients  were  received  May  1,  1919,  as  soon  as  the  building  was 
ready  for  occupancy,  with  Rev.  Ben  Rupp  as  superintendent. 

The  question  of  a  new  building  was  seriously  considered  by  the  board, 
estimates  and  plans  were  already  in  hand  when  it  became  known  that  the 
Kelso  Sanitarium,  a  fully  equipped  institution,  was  available.  At  a  called 
meeting  of  the  Association,  the  board  was  authorized  to  purchase  the  sani- 
tarium, which  was  done,  the  board  taking  full  charge  of  this  institution 
with  its  training  school,  May  1,  1920.     Steps  were  immediately  taken  to 


History  of  McLean  County  325 

reorganize  the  training  school  and  put  it  on  an  accredited  basis,  recognized 
by  the  State  of  Illinois.  All  students  who  finish  the  course  of  training 
required  are  eligible  to  the  credentials  of  a  State  Registered  Nurse. 

This  institution  has  at  its  command  a  medical  and  surgical  staff  equal 
to  any  in  the  central  west  covering  the  entire  medical  and  surgical  field. 
All  departments  of  the  institution  are  well  equipped,  the  surgical  depart- 
ment being  one  of  the  most  splendidly  equipped  in  the  state.  The  seriliz- 
ing  rooms  adjoining  are  fitted  with  the  latest  devices  for  sterilizing  dress- 
ings, instruments,  utensils  and  clothing.  Much  consideration  has  been 
given  to  the  equipment  of  the  maternity  department  to  meet  the  needs  of 
all  such  cases.  For  the  purpose  of  making  an  accurate  diagnosis  of  dis- 
eases there  is  a  standard  X-ray  machine  and  a  first-class  laboratory. 

The  bath  department  situated  in  the  new  building  is  so  arranged  that 
it  is.  easy  of  access  both  from  the  outside  and  by  elevator  on  the  inside. 
The  bath  rooms  are  sunny,  cheerful  and  efficient.  As  an  auxiliary  in  the 
building  up  of  physical  conditions,  this  is  an  important  feature.  They  are 
able  to  offer  the  best  in  the  way  of  Sitz,  Steam,  Needle  and  Shower  Baths, 
Electric  Light,  Electric  Water  and  Electric  Robe  Baths,  Salt  Glows,  Oil 
Rubs,  Hot  Packs,  Fomentations,  Scotch  Douches  and  Massage. 

The  present  need  is  more  room  and  plans  are  being  formulated  to 
enlarge  the  institution  in  the  near  future.  The  ideal  is  a  Christian  insti- 
tution where  service  may  be  given  in  the  Spirit  of  Him  who  said,  "Even 
the  Son  of  Man  came  not  to  be  ministered  unto,  but  to  minister,  and  give 
His  life  a  ransom  for  many." 

The  Jessamine  Withers  Home  is  an  institution  designed  for  the  resi- 
dence of  aged  women  who  can  fulfill  the  regulations  as  to  entry,  and  who, 
having  once  become  residents,  may  remain  there  throughout  their  lives. 
The  Home  is  located  on  the  north  side  of  West  Locust  Street  in  the  300 
block.  It  was  formerly  the  home  of  Mrs.  Sarah  Withers,  a  well-known 
woman  of  Bloomington  for  many  years.  She  left  the  property  in  trust 
for  the  uses  indicated,  and  after  it  was  put  upon  a  substantial  basis  it 
was  named  Jessamine  Withers  Home  in  her  honor.  Along  about  1913, 
when  the  property  was  first  turned  over  to  the  trustees  of  the  Second 
Presbyterian  Church  for  the  care  of  aged  women,  the  house  was  in  a  bad 
sta'te  of  repair,  and  there  was  no  funds  to  repair  it.  Through  the  gener- 
osity of  Mrs.  Martha  Horr  and  Col.  D.  C.  Smith,  a  cottage  was  built  on 


326  History  of  McLean  County 

the  rear  of  the  lot,  and  here  a  few  women,  otherwise  alone  in  the  world, 
were  able  to  secure  board  and  room  at  reasonable  rates.  This  was  in  the 
inception  of  the  Withers  Home.  In  1914  Capt.  S.  Noble  King  and  Mrs. 
King,  foreseeing  the  possibilities  of  the  place,  created  an  endowment  for 
its  upkeep  by  deeding  to  the  trustees  the  fine  farm  of  Captain  King  north- 
east of  Normal.  Its  management  was  put  in  the  hands  of  a  board  of  trus- 
tees consisting  of  one  woman  from  each  of  the  Protestant  churches  of 
Bloomington  and  Normal.  Contributions  of  money  and  furnishings  began 
to  accumulate,  and  at  the  end  of  the  first  year  the  Horr  cottage  and  the 
original  Withers  house,  now  remodeled  and  improved,  housed  nine  women. 
From  that  time  to  1923,  there  were  23  different  women  who  found  homes 
and  comfort  there  in  the  declining  years  of  their  lives. 

When  a  woman,  otherwise  without  a  home,  invests  in  one  here,  she 
is  assured  of  a  real  home  in  every  sense  of  the  word  for  the  rest  of  her 
life.  Whatever  she  may  have  beyond  the  $500  purchase  price  is  invested 
for  her  by  the  trustees,  used  by  her  during  her  lifetime,  and  at  her 
death  is  bequeathed  to  the  Home  for  the  benefit  of  the  family.  If  $500 
is  the  sum  of  her  possessions,  all  of  the  benefits  of  the  home  are  equally 
hers  at  that  price,  whether  she  lives  one  year  or  twenty-five. 

The  board  of  management  for  the  year  1923  was  composed  of  the  fol- 
lowing women : 

Members  at  large — Mrs.  S.  Noble  King,  Mrs.  Allen  Brown,  Mrs.  F.  C. 
Davison,  Mrs.  Willis  Harwood,  Mrs.  Guy  McCurdy,  Mrs.  Milton  White. 

Representing  the  county  at  large — Mrs.  J.  M.  Anderson,  of  Saybrook, 
Mrs.  William  Mcintosh,  of  Colfax. 

Representing  the  various  churches  in  Bloomington  and  Normal — Mrs. 
Will  Barnard,  Park  Methodist;  Mrs.  Mahlon  Bishop,  Second  United 
Brethren;  Mrs.  Hester  Bonnett,  First  Christian;  Mrs.  A.  L.  Chapman, 
First  Presbyterian;  Mrs.  E.  L.  Darr,  First  United  Brethren;  Mrs.  Alonzo 
Dolan,  Baptist;  Miss  Bernice  L.  Foster,  Grace  M.  E. ;  Mrs.  W.  P.  Garret- 
son,  Second  Presbyterian;  Mrs.  John  R.  Gee,  Unitarian;  Mrs.  Arthur 
Graves,  Episcopal;  Mrs.  Campbell  Holton,  Second  Christian;  Mrs.  Edwin 
Pattison,  Congregational;  Mrs.  C.  L.  Schneider,  Christian  Science;  Mrs. 
A.  Schwarzman,  Synagogue ;  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Young,  First  Methodist ;  Mrs. 
E.  P.  Brand,  Normal  Baptist ;  Mrs.  John  Goodwin,  Normal  Christian ;  Mrs. 
W.  H.  Johnson,  Normal  Methodist. 


History  of  McLean  County  327 

Mrs.  Clara  Simpson  and  her  helpers  have  worked  out  a  system  of 
housekeeping  lubrication  whereby  the  maximum  efficiency  is  produced 
with  minimum  friction  in  all  details  of  the  Home  life.  The  contentment 
and  happiness  which  broods  over  the  place  are  due  in  great  measure  to 
these  competent  workers. 

Victory  Hall. — In  the  spring  of  1919  there  were  thirty  homeless  Mc- 
Lean County  boys  living  in  the  Girls'  Industrial  Home,  an  institution  for 
girls,  as  its  name  indicates.  What  should  be  done  for  these  boys  needing 
care  and  protection?  Mrs.  E.  R.  Morgan,  president  of  the  board  of  di- 
rectors, called  together  a  group  of  interested  women  to  organize  a  home 
for  boys.  This  group  included  Mrs.  Davis  Ewing,  Mrs.  Charles  Burr,  Mrs. 
Frank  Chase,  Mrs.  Oscar  Mandel  and  Miss  Bertha  Cowles.  A  board  of 
directors  was  formed,  for  a  boys'  home,  of  which  Mrs.  Fred  B.  Capen  was 
the  first  chairman.  The  project  was  at  first  financed  by  memberships  at 
$5  each  per  year.  A  drive  was  undertaken  and  a  house  and  grounds  on 
West  Hovey  Avenue  in  Normal  were  purchased  and  named  Victory  Hall. 
It  was  the  former  Brooks  home,  a  large  house  with  ample  grounds.  Later 
a  gift  of  $3,000  permitted  the  purchase  of  six  lots  of  additional  ground. 
On  the  west  is  a  playground,  and  on  the  north  a  garden  and  fruit  trees. 
A  small  frame  house  on  the  new  lots  serves  as  a  hospital  when  needed. 
Every  activity  that  makes  the  boys  mingle  with  other  children  is  encour- 
aged. They  not  only  go  to  the  public  schools,  but  also  to  Sunday  school. 
There  are  swimming  classes  at  the  Y.  M.  C.  A.  The  boys  have  their  own 
scout  troop.  It  is  a  good  one.  Holidays  are  well  provided  for  at  Victory 
Hall.    They  have  circus  and  movie  treats,  dear  to  the  hearts  of  all  boys. 

For  the  last  two  years,  Victory  Hall  has  participated  in  the  general 
welfare  drive  and  receives  an  apportionment  of  about  $5,000  per  year  for 
the  maintenance  of  the  institution.  The  board  of  management  for  the 
year  1923  was  made  up  as  follows:  Mrs.  Davis  Ewing,  president;  Mrs. 
Holmes,  vice-president;  Mrs.  Louis  Eddy,  treasurer;  Mrs.  Fitch  Harwood, 
secretary ;  Miss  Jeanette  Johnston,  corresponding  secretary.  Board :  Mrs. 
Fred  Capin,  Miss  Bertha  Cowles,  Mrs.  Mercer  Davis,  Mrs.  Harold  Gard- 
ner, Mrs.  Harris  Hoblit,  Mrs.  Louie  Kuhn,  Mrs.  Oscar  Mandel,  Mrs.  James 
Melluish,  Mrs.  Eugene  Funk,  Mrs.  Manchester,  Mrs.  L.  Probasco,  Mrs. 
Ebon  Jones,  Miss  Julia  Hodge,  Mrs.  Herman  Ochs. 


328 


History  of  McLean  County 


Day  Nursery — In  January  of  1907,  at  the  call  of  Mrs.  Albert  Schwarz- 
man,  a  group  of  women  met  at  the  Illinois  hotel  to  organize  and  establish 
a  day  nursery  where  mothers  might  leave  their  children  when  they  went 
out  to  earn  a  livelihood.  Mrs.  A.  E.  Stevenson  presided.  The  organiza- 
tion was  completed,  and  soon  afterward  a  small  frame  house  on  West  Mul- 
berry Street  west  of  the  Alton  road  was  rented,  the  first  year's  rent  being 
paid  by  Col.  D.  C.  Smith  and  Howard  Humphreys.  Mrs.  R.  0.  Graham  was 
first  president,  and  continued  in  office  till  she  left  the  city  some  years  later. 
After  a  few  years  the  Day  Nursery  expanded  when  funds  were  secured 
from  the  public  for  purchasing  a  twelve-room  house  farther  to  the  west 
on  Mulberry.  It  was  secured  free  of  debt  and  remodeled  to  suit  its 
uses.  In  the  present  quarters,  the  expenses  of  maintenance  is  about  $300 
per  month.  Miss  Jennie  Thompson  served  as  resident  superintendent 
until  her  death  in  the  winter  of  1923.  Mrs.  Glines,  her  former  assistant, 
succeeded  Miss  Thompson.  Some  of  the  women  who  have  been  prominent 
in  the  management  of  the  Day  Nursery  are  Mrs.  C.  M.  Harlan,  Miss  Nel- 
lie Parham,  Mrs.  R.  C.  Baldwin,  Mrs.  Frank  Aldrich,  Miss  Laurastine  Mar- 
quis, Mesdames  Harry  Eckart,  Harris  K.  Hoblit,  A.  Schwarzman,  Fred 
B.  Capen,  Clinton  P.  Soper,  Kern  Beath,  H.  M.  Rollins,  Alfred  Sample, 
Louise  Robinson,  Miss  Margaret  Robinson  and  Miss  Lulu  Peters.  At  the 
present  house,  a  branch  library  is  maintained,  a  kindergarten  conducted, 
sewing  and  cooking  classes,  and  night  school  for  Americanization  kept  up. 

The  McLean  County  Home  for  Colored  Children  is  one  of  the  newer 
and  smaller  philanthropic  institutions,  but  it  is  one  which  is  serving  a 
real  need  of  the  city  and  county.  It  is  located  in  a  house  at  1203  West 
Moulton  Street.  There  are  from  five  to  ten  children  in  the  Home  at  all 
times,  and  a  colored  matron  is  in  charge.  The  boy  children  get  good 
care  and  are  sent  to  school  during  the  usual  term  time.  This  Home  par- 
ticipates in  the  general  welfare  drive  which  is  annually  put  on  in  Bloom- 
ington  for  the  combined  charitable  causes  and  institutions. 

The  Babyfold,  located  in  Normal,  is  one  of  the  most  unique  and  inter- 
esting charitable  institutions  in  McLean  County,  or  indeed  anywhere  in 
Illinois.  It  has  grown  from  a  small  beginning  to  a  large  house  full  of 
babies,  all  of  its  expansion  and  increase  in  usefulness  having  been  accom- 
plished without  incurring  at  any  time  any  debt  which  could  not  be 
promptly    discharged.     Some  twenty  years  ago,  Mrs.  Mason,  of  Normal, 


History  of  McLean  County  329 

donated  her  home  on  North  Street  for  the  purpose  of  founding  a  Deacon- 
ess Home,  but  after  the  Deaconess  (now  Brokaw)  Hospital  had  provided 
a  home  for  its  nurses,  the  Mason  property  was  converted  into  a  home  for 
homeless  babies.  Mrs.  Asher,  the  present  superintendent,  took  charge 
of  it  in  1903,  and  with  the  increase  in  the  number  of  babies  which  came 
into  her  charge,  it  was  found  that  the  Mason  property  was  inadequate. 
In  1910  this  house  was  traded  for  a  piece  of  property  on  Willow  Street 
in  Normal,  just  east  of  the  Illinois  Central  and  extending  back  to  Cypress. 
The  house  had  11  rooms,  and  the  grounds  were  large.  A  gift  of  $3,000 
afterward  allowed  the  property  to  be  improved  and  enlarged.  Then  Dr. 
Quine,  of  Chicago,  a  son-in-law  of  Mrs.  Mason,  gave  the  Babyfold  a  gift 
of  $5,000,  with  the  provision  that  he  should  be  allowed  interest  on  it  till 
his  death,  then  it  was  to  be  an  outright  gift.  With  this  money  a  small 
farm  on  Main  Street  was  secured,  on  which  the  cows  are  kept  for  fur- 
nishing milk  to  the  Babyfold.  Several  years  later  another  and  larger 
brick  addition  was  built  to  the  Babyfold.  As  many  as  65  babies  have  been 
cared  for  in  this  institution  at  one  time,  ranging  from  new-born  infants 
to  children  five  or  six  years  of  age.  Many  of  the  babies  are  secured  per- 
manent homes  in  good  families,  so  that  the  Babyfold  serves  a  double 
purpose.  The  Babyfold  formerly  was  supported  by  private  donations. 
Now  it  participates  in  the  general  welfare  drive,  and  secures  an  appor- 
tionment from  the  proceeds  of  that  campaign. 

The  Girls'  Industrial  Home,  a  well-known  and  established  McLean 
County  institution,  has  been  in  existence  for  twenty-five  years.  It  has  a 
large  brick  building  located  on  South  State  Street,  where  there  are  con- 
stantly a  number  of  girls  in  good  care  who  have  been  deprived  of  their 
natural  family  protection,  either  by  death  or  separation  of  their  parents. 
The  first  entry  in  the  records  of  the  institution  was  made  in  1899,  in  the 
handwriting  of  Miss  Mattie  Marble.  The  records  further  show  that  when 
some  thirty  women  formed  a  board  for  the  establishment  of  the  Girls' 
Industrial  Home,  Mrs.  Ellen  Light  was  chosen  its  first  president.  The 
names  of  the  other  persons  interested  at  the  founding  of  the  Home  were 
Gertrude  Willever,  Fannie  Fell,  Louise  Maxwell,  Sallie  Kerrick,  Ellen  Phil- 
lips, Clara  Waite,  M.  Louise  Crothers,  Frances  C.  Funk,  Anna  C.  Read, 
Mary  O'Connell,  Sarah  H.  Aldrich,  Mattie  Newton,  Carrie  Brownell,  Hat- 
tie  Allin,   Sue   R.   Cooper,   Letta   Livingston,   Amelia   Griesheim,   Joseph 


330  History  of  McLean  County 

Thompson,  Thomas  Tipton,  Edmund  O'Connell,  Louise  J.  Woods,  Lydia 
McCoy,  Mary  C.  White,  Mattie  Marble,  Eliza  Davis,  Henry  Augustine, 
Malinda  Anderson,  Anna  L.  Randolph,  Orpha  Hiett,  Lydia  Morehouse, 
Lydia  Aldrich,  Sarah  E.  Samms,  Elizabeth  Coale,  Louise  Wilson,  Mary 
Jordan.  For  many  years  the  Home  occupied  a  wooden  building,  which 
had  formerly  been  a  residence.  Then  about  1916  a  campaign  was  put  on 
for  securing  funds  to  build  a  brick  fire-proof  building,  three  stories  in 
height,  which  was  successfully  accomplished  and  the  new  structure  was 
occupied  in  the  fall  of  1917.  The  girls  at  the  Industrial  Home  attend  the 
public  schools  and  the  Sunday  schools  and  churches  of  that  vicinity.  The 
county  of  McLean,  by  action  of  the  board  of  supervisors,  each  year  appro- 
priates a  sum  at  a  certain  rate  per  capita  for  all  the  girls  who  are  resi- 
dent there.  Some  of  the  girls  are  placed  in  homes,  and  others  on  reach- 
ing the  age  limit  are  sent  out  into  the  world  with  good  training  for  their 
future  lives,  either  as  wives  or  fitted  to  undertake  a  career.  Miss  Carrie 
Smith  is  the  efficient  superintendent,  a  position  she  has  held  for  several 
years.  The  present  board  of  management  is  as  follows:  President,  Mrs. 
E.  R.  Morgan,  vice-presidents,  Mrs.  Howard  Humphreys  and  Mrs.  George 
L.  Parker;  secretary,  Mrs.  Clara  D.  Munce;  treasurer,  Mrs.  Gordon  Cole. 
Mrs.  Munce  succeeds  to  the  secretaryship  after  the  death  of  her  mother, 
Mrs.  H.  C.  DeMotte,  who  held  the  position  for  niany  years. 

One  of  the  notable  helps  to  the  permanency  of  this  home  was  the 
bequest  left  in  her  will  by  Miss  Mattie  Marble,  one  of  the  charter  mem- 
bers of  the  board.  This  was  a  very  substantial  sum,  and  after  some  liti- 
gation concerning  final  approval  of  the  will  has  been  disposed  of,  the  sum 
will  become  a  permanent  endowment  for  the  home.  Mrs.  Aldrich,  an- 
other charter  member  who  died  in  1923,  left  $500  in  her  will  for  the  home, 
which  the  board  placed  to  a  separate  use  under  the  title  of  the  "Mrs.  Aid- 
rich  Fund."  Mrs.  E.  R.  Morgan,  long  time  president  of  the  board  in  her 
last  annual  report,  says:  "Many  have  gone  from  this  Home  to  useful 
corners,  many  wives  and  mothers  in  happy  homes.  We  feel  there  is  a 
growing  knowledge  on  the  part  of  the  public  that  this  home  is  a  satisfac- 
tory harbor  for  girls  who  have  been  deprived  of  the  shelter  and  protec- 
tion of  their  natural  homes  and  we  hope  to  justify  and  maintain  this 
position,  not  only  at  home,  but  abroad. 

Fairview  Sanatorium  for  the  treatment  of  tuberculosis  persons  is  a 
McLean  County  institution  which  had  its  inception  in  a  privately  organ- 


History  of  McLean  County 


331 


332  History  of  McLean  County 

ized  body  of  citizens  who  gave  their  time  and  money  to  promoting  the 
fight  against  the  disease  which  had  a  record  at  that  time  of  being  the  most 
destructive  single  ailment  to  the  human  family.  At  a  meeting  held  in 
the  office  of  Capt.  J.  H.  Rowell  in  January,  1908,  the  subject  of  the  organ- 
ization of  such  a  society  was  first  discussed.  Col.  D.  C.  Smith  was  chosen 
chairman,  and  J.  L.  Hasbrouck  secretary.  In  addition,  those  present  were 
Edmund  O'Connell,  Clinton  P.  Soper,  Dr.  F.  0.  Jackman,  Dr.  E.  Mammen 
and  Dr.  J.  H.  Fenelon.  At  that  first  meeting,  Edmund  O'Connell  was 
asked  to  go  to  Springfield  to  attempt  to  secure  a  law  for  permitting  coun- 
ties in  Illinois  to  levy  a  tax  to  establish  and  maintain  an  institution  for 
the  care  and  cure  of  tuberculosis  patients.  At  a  meeting  on  Sept.  26, 
1911,  it  was  voted  that  the  society  be  called  the  McLean  County  Anti- 
tuberculosis Society.  On  Oct.  17  following,  the  following  officers  were 
elected:  Colonel  Smith,  honorary  president;  E.  W.  Cole,  active  presi- 
dent; Henry  Behr,  treasurer  and  corresponding  secretary;  J.  L.  Has- 
brouck, recording  secretary. 

The  law  for  the  authority  of  counties  to  levy  a  tax  for  establishing 
sanatoriums  for  tuberculosis  people  was  passed  and  became  effective  July 
1,  1909.  Agitation  was  at  once  begun  to  secure  action  of  the  board  of 
supervisors  for  submitting  this  question  to  the  people.  This  was  with- 
out effect  for  several  years,  and  it  was  not  until  Nov.  7,  1916,  that  the 
question  was  voted  upon,  with  the  result  that  9,661  votes  were  cast  in 
favor  of  it,  and  7,714  against  it,  the  favorable  majority  being  1,947.  The 
county  tuberculosis  society  had  meanwhile  carried  on  extensive  educa- 
tional work,  having  hired  a  visiting  nurse  and  furnished  information  to 
families  free  where  there  were  members  suffering  from  the  disease.  The 
board  of  supervisors,  following  the  referendum  vote,  levied  and  collected 
the  prescribed  tax  of  one  mill  on  the  $100  valuation.  Three  trustees  were 
named  to  administer  this  fund,  they  being  Dr.  C.  M.  Noble,  Mrs.  J.  A. 
Bohrer  and  Jacobs  Martens.  The  first  of  the  county  agencies  established 
to  combat  tuberculosis  was  the  public  dispensary,  opened  in  January, 
1918,  in  a  room  at  103  East  Market  Street,  where  it  continues;  to  this 
day.  Here  free  examinations  and  diagnosis  were  furnished  to  the  public, 
Dr.  Bernice  Curry  acting  as  medical  director.     The  first  year  there  were 

333  cases  handled  by  Dr.  Curry  and  Mrs.  Brett.  In  1918  a  site  consisting 
of  forty  acres  just  north  of  Normal  situated  along  Main  Street  on  a 
commanding  rise  of  ground,  was  bought  for  the  location  of  the  proposed 


History  of  McLean  County  333 

sanatorium.  The  name  of  "Fairview"  was  chosen  upon  public  sugges- 
tions, after  many  other  names  had  been  offered.  The  building  was  erected 
in  the  spring  and  summer  of  1919,  and  on  August  17  was  formally  dedi- 
cated with  imposing  ceremonies.  The  McLean  County  Sanatorium  was 
the  second  one  of  its  kind  in  Illinois,  only  one  other  county  having  pre- 
ceded this  in  erecting  such  a  building.  The  original  capacity  of  the  sana- 
torium was  34  patients,  and  a  later  addition  provided  six  other  rooms, 
accommodating  a  total  of  49.  One  section  was  set  apart  for  soldiers  of 
the  World  War,  of  whom  there  were  several  at  the  start  and  have  been 
ever  since.  In  the  lobby  of  the  sanatorium,  over  the  fire  place,  was  un- 
veiled a  bronze  tablet  in  honor  of  Mrs.  Florence  Fifer  Bohrer,  who  had 
from  the  start  been  a  moving  spirit  in  the  work  of  the  McLean  County 
Anti-tuberculosis  Society  and  of  the  sanatorium  project.  Miss  Catherine 
Smith  was  the  first  superintendent  of  the  sanatorium,  and  she  was  suc- 
ceeded by  Dr.  A.  Bernice  Curry,  the  present  head.  Mrs.  Brett,  after  serv- 
ing several  years  as  visiting  nurse,  resigned  and  was  succeeded  by  Mrs. 
Earl  Cooper,  the  present  incumbent.  The  Tuberculosis  Society  still  car- 
ries on  its  educational  work,  its  fundsi  being  furnished  by  sales  of  Red 
Cross  seals.  The  sanatorium  is  constantly  filled  with  patients,  and  usually 
there  is  a  waiting  list.  Since  beginning  her  work  here  Dr.  Curry  has 
examined  1,473  patients.  It  is  the  second  sanatorium  built  and  operated 
under  the  Glacken  law. 

Fairview  Sanatorium  is  for  the  treatment  of  all  stages  of  tubercu- 
losis, children  admitted  and  negroes  are  admitted  in  a  separate  building. 
The  capacity  of  the  Sanatorium  is  49  beds,  and  it  is  free  to  residents  of 
McLean  County.  The  original  cost  of  building  which  is  fire-proof  was 
$100,000;  ground,  $15,000;  equipment,  $10,000.  Since  original  cost  three 
new  rooms,  six  beds  and  a  cottage  for  colored  people  have  been  added.  It 
is  located  three  miles  north  of  the  C.  H.  at  Bloomington  and  can  be  reached 
by  street  car  from  Bloomington  to  Normal ;  transfer  to  Normal  loop ;  leave 
car  at  Lincoln  and  School  Streets,  and  walk  six  blocks. 

Salvation  Army. — By  purchasing  and  improving  a  three-story  build- 
ing at  Madison  and  Washington  Streets,  Bloomington,  in  1923,  the  Sal- 
vation Army  took  its  place  among  the  permanent  establishments  of  Mc- 
Lean County  which  are  devoted  to  religious  and  humanitarian  work.  It 
had  been  operating  in  Bloomington  for  several  years  previously,  having 


334  History  of  McLean  County 

first  been  located  here  as  a  post  in  the  year  1891  by  Col.  Jack  C.  Addie. 
The  organization  had  a  precarious  existence  for  many  years,  consisting 
of  a  small  band  of  devoted  followers  who  held  religious  meetings  on  the 
streets,  and  then  in  a  small  hall,  and  supported  by  the  meager  voluntary 
contributions  secured  by  "drum-head"'  collections  on  the  streets.  Later 
a  small  room  was  rented  from  James  Shaw  on  South  Center  Street,  and 
under  various  officers  of  the  world-wide  organization  assigned  to  this  sta- 
tion, the  work  was  carried  forward.  In  the  year  1918  under  World  War 
conditions,  the  Salvation  Army  was  put  on  a  more  substantial  basis  by 
creating  a  council  of  administration,  composed  of  citizens  of  all  parts  of 
the  county,  who  formed  an  annual  fund  for  its  sustenance  and  thereby 
relieved  it  from  the  former  hand-to-mouth  way  of  getting  on.  In  1923, 
from  a  balance  left  over  from  war  drives  and  some  funds  made  up  in 
other  ways,  the  Army,  then  under  charge  of  Captain  Ainsworth,  made  a 
first  payment  on  the  three-story  business  building  at  Madison,  for  which 
$20,000  was  the  price.  The  balance  is  to  be  made  up  in  future  payments. 
The  building  was  remodeled  and  occupied  in  January,  1924. 

The  Bureau  of  Social  Service,  the  central  charitable  organization  in 
Bloomington  was  first  broached  at  a  mass  meeting  held  in  the  Second 
Presbyterian  Church  on  April  10,  1900.  There  were  eight  charitable  or- 
ganizations of  the  city  represented,  and  it  was  voted  to  form  an  Associ- 
ated Charities,  modeled  after  the  one  in  Chicago.  Col.  D.  C.  Smith  was 
chairman,  Mrs.  Sue  A.  Sanders,  secretary.  Miss  Charlotte  Capen  ex- 
plained the  object  of  the  meeting,  and  a  committee  on  constitution  was 
named,  consisting  of  Mrs.  B.  P.  Marsh,  M.  Levy  and  H.  R.  Evans.  One 
week  later,  Colonel  Smith  called  a  meeting  to  hear  the  report  of  the  com- 
mittee on  constitution,  and  also  announced  a  large  committee  headed  by 
Mayor  L.  B.  Thomas  and  ex-Mayor  C.  F.  Koch  to  canvass  the  city  and 
create  interest  in  the  project. 

At  the  meeting  on  April  19,  a  constitution  was  adopted  and  the  fol- 
lowing officers  elected:  President,  Howard  D.  Humphreys;  first  vice- 
president,  R.  D.  Levy ;  second  vice-president,  C.  P.  Soper ;  third  vice-presi- 
dent, J.  J.  Thompson;  secretary,  J.  L.  Loar.  On  the  following  Sunday 
night,  a  union  mass  meeting  of  the  churches  of  the  city  was  held  at  the 
Second  Presbyterian,  when  Charles  F.  Weller  of  the  Chicago  Associated 
Charities  delivered  an  address. 


History  of  McLean  County  335 

Miss  Ida  Lange  was  appointed  the  first  office  secretary  and  general 
overseer  of  the  work.  The  idea  of  a  clinic  was  incorporated  with  the  or- 
ganization, and  work  of  that  kind  was  carried  on  with  the  co-operation  of 
the  physicians  of  the  city.  Mrs.  Nannie  Dunkin  was  named  general  sec- 
retary about  a  year  after  the  organization,  and  she  continued  in  the  posi- 
tion for  a  number  of  years.  In  the  list  of  officers  and  directors  during 
the  earlier  stages  were  several  changes,  and  the  list  for  the  year  1905 
were  as  follows:  President,  R.  F.  Evans;  vice-presidents,  Oscar  Mandel, 
Henry  Capen,  Mrs.  Lucy  Lucas;  treasurer,  W.  L.  Moore.  Mrs.  Dunkin 
in  her  report  for  the  year  1904-5  showed  that  762  cases  had  been  taken 
care  of.  The  treasurer  showed  $2,875  received,  with  a  balance  at  the  end 
of  the  year  of  $643. 

Mrs.  Dunkin  remained  as  general  secretary  and  superintendent  from 
the  time  of  her  appointment  in  1902  until  1915,  when  she  resigned  and 
was  succeded  by  Mrs.  Mabel  H.  Seymour,  who  had  been  assistant  in  the 
office.  Mrs.  Seymour  acted  as  superintendent  for  about  nine  years,  re- 
signing in  May,  1920.  Her  services  covered  the  period  of  the  World  War, 
when  the  Associated  Charities  was  called  upon  to  do  more  and  greater 
work  than  at  any  previous  period.  The  co-operation  with  the  Red  Cross 
and  other  relief  agencies  for  the  care  of  the  families  of  soldiers  called  into 
the  service,  and  to  the  adjustment  of  their  compensation  and  other  work 
of  that  sort,  created  additional  functions  for  the  organization.  In  the 
year  1918,  at  the  annual  meeting  in  May,  the  name  of  the  society  was 
changed  from  Associated  Charities  to  that  of  the  Bureau  of  Social  Serv- 
ice, that  being  more  in  line  with  its  work  and  better  suited  to  its  co-opera- 
tion with  similar  societies  elsewhere.  At  about  the  same  time,  through 
co-operation  with  the  board  of  supervisors,  the  city  and  county  relief 
work  were  combined  in  the  same  office,  and  Mrs.  Seymour  was  made 
county  overseer  of  the  poor  for  the  city  of  Bloomington,  as  well  as  gen- 
eral secretary  of  the  Bureau  of  Social  Service.  Her  salary  was  partly 
paid  by  the  county  and  partly  by  the  Bureau.  This  was  a  great  advan- 
tage all  around,  for  it  prevented  duplication  of  relief  and  simplified  the 
procedure  in  many  ways. 

Upon  the  resignation  of  Mrs.  Seymour  in  May,  1920,  the  position  of 
general  secretary  and  overseer  of  the  poor  was  filled  by  Mrs.  Naoma  M. 
Fry,  who  had  been  assistant.  Mrs.  Fry  is  still  in  charge,  and  she  has 
as  her  present  assistant  Mrs.  Florence  Strohmeier.     The  office  of  the 


336  History  of  McLean  County 

Bureau  has  been  located  for  more  than  twenty  years  in  offices  over  No. 
320  North  Main  Street.  The  Bureau  is  supported  by  private  contribu- 
tions, for  which  an  annual  campaign  is  put  on.  Of  recent  years  the  organi- 
zation has  received  several  bequests  of  large  sums  which  are  to  be  used 
as  an  endowment  fund.  These  bequests  came  from  the  estates  of  George 
S.  Hanna,  Judge  Myers,  William  T.  Shorthose,  Lyman  M.  Graham,  Luman 
Burr  and  Mrs.  Margaret  Packard. 

It  is  interesting  to  recall  the  names  of  the  persons  who  have  served 
as  presidents  and  secretaries  of  the  board  of  directors  of  the  Bureau  of 
Social  Service  since  its  formation. 

James  A.  Wilcox  was  first  president,  serving  in  1902-3.  Col.  D.  C. 
Smith  served  for  a  short  period  in  1903.  R.  F.  Evans  then  was  president 
in  1904  and  1905.  The  next  president  was  Henry  Behr,  in  1906  and  1907. 
Charles  Northrup  served  in  1908  and  1909.  Then  began  the  long  term 
of  E.  W.  Cole,  who  was  elected  in  1910  and  served  until  1917,  when  he 
removed  to  California.  John  W.  Harber  served  as  president  the  next  two 
years,  1918  and  1919.  James  G.  Melluish  was  chosen  president  in  1920 
and  served  for  three  years.  At  the  annual  meeting  of  1923,  Ralph  M. 
Green  was  elected  president,  and  he  still  holds  the  position. 

Miss  Ida  D.  Lange  was  chosen  first  secretary,  and  was  succeeded  in 
1903  by  Mrs.  Lucy  Lucas,  who  served  until  1916.  In  the  latter  year,  Mrs. 
Alonzo  Dolan  was  chosen  secretary  and  served  until  1920.  Mrs.  Julius 
Griesheim  succeeded  her,  and  acted  as  secretary  until  the  annual  meet- 
ing of  1923,  when  Mrs.  Louis  FitzHenry  was  elected. 


'  7F* 


1  «  M, 


CHAPTER  XXVIII. 


THE  ASSOCIATION  OF  COMMERCE. 


FIRST  ORGANIZATION — BUSINESS  MEN'S   ASSOCIATION — EARLY  OFFICERS— SECRE- 
TARY    HUDSON— ACTIVITIES     OF     ASSOCIATION — VARIOUS     DEPARTMENTS 

INFLUENCE — MEMBERSHIP    S24 — COMMITTEES — DIRECTORS. 

The  period  of  the  great  fire  saw  a  transformation  in  the  history  of 
Bloomington  in  one  regard.  It  created  a  spirit  of  co-operation  among  the 
people  of  the  city  which  had  never  before  been  in  existence,  or  at  least 
had  never  found  expression.  One  of  the  means  of  this  expression  which 
came  into  being  was  the  organization  first  formed  under  the  name  of  the 
Business  Men's  Association,  and  now  known  as  the  Association  of  Com- 
merce. This  association  has  had  a  continuous  and  active  existence  from 
the  year  of  the  great  fire.  When  the  city  lay  prostrate  in  ashes  after 
the  conflagration  had  swept  out  its  heart,  the  business  men  saw  that  if 
it  was  ever  to  rise  from  the  ashes  in  better  shape  than  before,  it  would 
be  only  by  the  united  efforts  of  all  classes  of  citizens.  In  that  feeling 
was  born  the  Business  Men's  Association. 

On  the  evening  of  Nov.  22,  1900,  a  mass  meeting  was  held  in  old 
Washingtonian  Hall,  in  the  upper  story  of  the  building  then  known  as  the 
Leader  Building.  There  were  present  200  of  the  leading  business  men 
of  the  city,  and  after  some  preliminary  discussion  it  was  decided  to  form 
a  permanent  organization  for  mutual  advantage.  Eighty-nine  men  signed 
the  roll  as  charter  members  of  the  new  association,  and  the  following  were 
the  first  officers  elected  by  the  association:  President,  Benjamin  F.  Har- 
ber;  first  vice-president,  C.  P.  Soper;  second  vice-president,  C.  W.  Klemm; 
treasurer,  John  J.  Cowden ;  directors,  S.  R.  White,  A.  B.  Hoblit,  Robert 
Johnson,  Maurice  Levy,  Frank  Oberkoetter,  Milton  R.  Livingston,  John 

337 

(20) 


338  History  of  McLean  County 

Eddy,  H.  B.  Harwood,  Oscar  Mandel  and  Louis  FitzHenry.  The  first  of- 
fice secretary  chosen  for  the  association  was  R.  F.  Berry,  and  offices  were 
fitted  up  in  the  Eddy  Building,  where  activities  were  begun  which  were 
destined  to  accomplish  much  for  the  good  of  the  city  for  the  coming 
twenty  years. 

For  the  first  few  years  of  its  existence  the  Business  Men's  Association 
operated  in  a  rather  informal  way  and  with  but  meager  funds  and  re- 
sources. It  first  had  rooms  in  the  second  story  of  the  Stephen  Smith 
Building  at  the  corner  of  Jefferson  and  Center  Streets.  Shortly  after- 
ward its  office  was  moved  to  a  single  room  in  the  Unity  Building;  in  fact, 
its  secretary  simply  had  a  desk  in  a  lawyer's  office.  The  next  move  was 
to  a  room  on  the  first  floor  of  the  Illinois  Hotel  Building,  where  the  work 
was  carried  on  for  a  couple  of  years.  A  suite  of  rooms  in  the  front  part 
of  the  Griesheim  Building  were  next  remodeled  to  suit  the  needs  of  the 
Association,  and  here  its  working  force  and  field  of  activities  was  much 
expanded. 

The  Griesheim  suite  having  become  outgrown,  the  quarters  of  the 
Commercial  Club,  as  its  name  had  become  by  this  time,  was  taken  to  the 
Durley  Building,  where  a  series  of  rooms  stretching  along  the  Main  Street 
front  of  the  second  story,  were  occupied.  The  Farm  Bureau,  the  Traffic 
Bureau,  the  credit  rating  bureau,  and  other  minor  activities  had  been 
added  by  this  time. 

The  final  move,  made  in  November,  1922,  was  to  the  present  large 
and  well  appointed  quarters  in  the  B.  S.  Greeen  Building.  Here  the  Asso- 
ciation of  Commerce  occupies  three-fourths  of  the  first  floor,  and  also  a 
large  assembly  room  with  kitchen  attached  on  the  second  floor.  The  lat- 
ter are  used  for  meetings  of  various  kinds,  often  irt  cases  where  groups 
of  people  gather  at  luncheon  to  discuss  any  given  project.  Since  this 
building  was  occupied,  the  assembly  rooms  have  been  the  scenes  of  many 
notable  public  gatherings.  The  lower  floor  is  divided  into  compartments 
for  the  use  of  the  general  secretary,  the  credit  bureau  and  its  employes, 
the  traffic  bureau  and  its  managers,  and  there  is  also  a  large  committee 
room  for  smaller  meetings  than  needed  when  the  assembly  room  is  not 
required. 

The  list  of  the  presidents  of  the  Association  of  Commerce  and  its 
predecessors,  the  Commercial  Club  and  the  Business  Men's  Association, 
have  been  the  following  from  the  time  of  its  organization  in  the  year  1900: 


History  of  McLean  County  339 

Benjamin  F.  Harber,  1901-2;  John  Eddy,  1903-4;  Samuel  R.  White, 
1905 ;  John  J.  Pitts,  1906 ;  Hamer  H.  Green,  1907 ;  Paul  F.  Beich,  1908-9 ; 
Alonzo  Dolan,  1910-11;  G.  Burt  Read,  1912-13;  George  A.  Washburn,  1914- 
15;  George  C.  Heberling,  1916;  R.  C.  Baldwin,  1917-18;  E.  M.  Evans, 
1919-20;  Leroy  G.  Whitner,  1921-22;  Milton  R.  Livingston,  1923-24. 

R.  F.  Berry  was  the  first  employed  office  secretary,  and  held  the  po- 
sition until  his  death,  four  or  five  years  after  the  association  was  organ- 
ized. Then  William  Schmidt  was  placed  in  charge  of  the  office  work,  de- 
voting what  time  it  needed  along  with  his  own  business.  He  was  the 
secretary  at  the  time  of  the  great  Chicago  &  Alton  shop  expansion  cam- 
paign in  1910  as  described  in  detail  elsewhere.  Mr.  Schmidt  was  followed 
by  Jos.  Joplin,  who  had  been  traffic  manager  for  Harber  Bros.  Mr.  Jop- 
lin  was  an  expert  on  the  transportation  question,  and  devoted  most  of  his 
energies  to  that  phase  of  the  work.  He  finally  went  west,  giving  up  his 
position  here.  In  the  year  1913,  J.  Heber  Hudson  was  selected  to  the 
secretaryship,  and  he  continues  to  this  time.  He  had  formerly  been  a 
traveling  salesman  for  Seibel  Bros.,  and  it  transpired  that  he  was  quali- 
fied in  every  way  for  the  duties  of  secretary.  Under  his  direction  the 
Association  has  witnessed  most  of  its  growth  and  expansion. 

Ever  since  Secretary  Hudson  assumed  the  office,  he  has  issued  each 
year  a  printed  report  of  the  Association's  activities.  Extracts  from  these 
reports  indicate  the  many  things  done  or  planned.  The  first  report,  is- 
sued in  January,  1915,  for  the  year  1914  tells  of  the  introduction  of  the 
semi-annual  Style  Shows  by  the  Retail  Interests  committee.  It  tells  of 
the  formation  of  the  Better  Farming  Association,  which  was  the  prede- 
cessor of  the  present  McLean  County  Farm  Bureau.  A  trade  extension 
excursion  was  run,  when  500  business  men  joined  in  a  day's  trip  to  visit 
a  score  of  towns  within  a  radius  of  fifty  miles.  A  public  time  table  of 
trains  at  all  Bloomington  stations  was  posted  at  the  Corn  Belt  Bank  cor- 
ner. The  sum  of  $500  was  donated  toward  building  the  gap  in  the  Shir- 
ler  hard  road.  A  great  public  spectacle,  called  Venetian  Night,  was  given 
at  Miller  park  in  July.  The  rebuilt  Alton  shops  were  dedicated.  The 
offices  were  moved  to  the  front  of  the  Griesheim  Building,  and  4,000  peo- 
ple visited  the  office  during  the  year.  The  membership  for  the  year  was 
448,  and  a  total  of  $12,507.19  was  handled  in  the  office. 

In  1915  an  effort  for  the  construction  of  a  Community  Bulding  was 
made,  but  for  several  reasons  it  was  finally  abandoned.     D.  O.  Thompson 


340  History  of  McLean  County 

was  hired  as  the  first  McLean  County  farm  adviser  to  work  with  the 
Better  Farming  Association,  which  now  numbered  350  members.  The 
first  Middle-West  tractor  demonstration  was  put  on  this  year,  the  show 
being  in  fields  adjoining  Orendorff  Springs.  It  was  attended  by  50,000 
people  during  the  week.  In  the  fall  a  great  corn  show  was  given,  and 
a  great  McLean  County  picnic  was  held  at  Funk's  Grove  in  celebration 
of  the  first  settlement  of  Isaac  Funk  in  this  county.  The  horse  breeders' 
sales  were  promoted,  and  an  agricultural  short  course  was  arranged. 
The  collection  and  credit  rating  department  was  established  in  charge 
of  Jesse  B.  Havens.  The  Corn  Palace  attracted  24,000  visitors,  and  cost 
$4,497  to  put  on.  A  great  many  conventions  were  entertained  during 
the  year.  Another  trade  extension  excursion  was  carried  out.  A  lawn 
and  garden  contest  with  suitable  prizes  was  planned  and  carried  out.  A 
Christmas  charity  fund  of  $1,666  was  raised.  The  total  amount  of  money 
handled  during  the  year  was  $11,340,  and  the  membership  was  506. 

A  second  and  greater  tractor  demonstration  was  put  on  in  August, 
1916,  when  75,000  people  attended.  It  was  held  in  fields  east  and  south 
of  the  city,  and  cost  the  Commercial  Club  $4,714.  The  Corn  Palace  that 
year  encountered  terribly  bad  weather  and  came  out  with  a  deficit  of 
$3,000.  This  was  the  year  that  saw  the  total  motorizing  of  the  fire  de- 
partment of  Bloomington,  which  was  encouraged  by  the  Commercial  Club, 
the  change  costing  $21,000.  Many  conventions  were  provided  for  that 
year,  and  E.  M.  Evans  as  chairman  of  the  committee  on  city  planning, 
outlined  a  comprehensive  program.  The  membership  that  year  was  538, 
and  the  money  handled  amounted  to  $9,292. 

The  year  1917  was  also  marked  by  the  opening  of  war  activities  on 
the  part  of  this  association  as  well  as  in  every  other  organization.  The 
tractor  demonstration,  the  K.  of  P.  encampment  and  other  enterprises  of 
a  civic  character  were  abandoned  on  this  account.  The  retailers  organized 
a  co-operative  delivery  company  for  more  efficient  handling  of  merchan- 
dise. Company  M  was  formed  for  a  home  guard  military  organization 
in  the  absence  of  young  men  in  draft  bodies.  Capt.  C.  B.  Hamilton  was 
in  command.  The  Better  Farming  association  expanded  its  membership 
and  put  on  a  colt  show.  The  convention  committee  secured  permanent 
street  decorations  which  might  be  used  for  any  public  occasion.  Busi- 
ness was  good,  there  being  no  commercial  failures,  and  the  C.  &  A.  paid 
out  $3,500,000  in  Bloomington.     A  city  planning  program  was  organized. 


History  of  McLean  County  341 

The  membership  for  the  year  was  650,  and  the  total  amount  of  money 
handled  was  $10,508. 

In  1918  the  move  to  the  large  quarters  in  the  Durley  building  was 
made.  War  activities  continued  to  be  the  main  interest.  Capt.  Hills  as 
chairman  of,  the  committee  secured  a  fund  to  erect  memorial  arches  at 
the  court  house  in  honor  of  the  McLean  county  soldiers  who  had  died  in 
the  war.  The  A.  of  C.  gave  much  assistance  to  the  Wesleyan  in  its  estab- 
lishment of  the  S.  A.  T.  C.  and  erected  barracks  for  the  student  soldiers. 
A  great  corn  show  dedicated  this  building,  it  being  managed  jointly  by 
the  Farm  Bureau  of  the  A.  of  C.  The  sum  of  $5,000  was  realized,  but 
soon  afterward  the  Wesleyan  abandoned  its  S.  A.  T.  C.  program  owing  to 
the  close  of  the  war,  and  the  money  was  divided  between  the  Farm 
Bureau  and  the  A.  of  C.  This  year  saw  the  organization  of  the  McLean 
County  Home  Bureau  and  of  the  free  employment  bureau  under  the  aus- 
pices of  the  government,  for  which  the  A.  of  C.  contributed  liberally  for 
rent,  etc.  Several  celebrations  were  held  in  honor  of  the  centennial 
anniversary  of  the  admission  of  Illinois  to  the  union.  E.  M.  Evans  donated 
a  tract  of  eighty  acres  of  land  northeast  of  the  city  for  a  park,  to  be 
known  as  Centennial  park.  The  A.  of  C.  planned  to  erect  a  monument 
there.  One  of  the  organizations  promoted  this  year  was  the  Association 
of  Commerce  Glee  Club,  which  was  very  successful.  The  A.  of  C.  mem- 
bership was  646. 

One  of  the  achievements  of  the  year  1919  was  to  settle  forever  the 
question  of  the  proposed  removal  of  the  Wesleyan  University,  which  had 
been  strongly  advocated  in  the  Illinois  Conference.  The  faith  of  Bloom- 
ington  was  so  stoutly  exemplified  in  the  Wesleyan  that  the  conference 
backed  up  the  decision  of  the  trustees  that  the  institution  should  per- 
manently remain  here.  The  same  year  witnessed  the  closing  of  a  deal 
with  the  Meadows  Manufacturing  Company  for  the  removal  of  its  Pontiac 
plant  to  Bloomington  and  to  erect  new  buildings  costing  $600,000  on  a 
tract  of  fourteen  acres  secured  by  the  A.  of  C.  and  given  to  the  company 
as  a  site.  The  proposition  was  financed  by  the  platting  and  selling  lots 
in  the  Association  of  Commerce  addition,  adjoining  the  Meadows  tract. 
Two  other  smaller  factories  were  secured  that  year.  The  returning  sol- 
diers from  the  world  war  were  provided  with  public  receptions  whenever 
a  contingent  of  any  size  arrived.  The  strip  of  three  miles  of  concrete  road 
east  on  Empire  street  was  constructed  by  co-operation  between  county 


342  History  of  McLean  County 

and  state  road  agencies.  This  same  year  witnessed  the  construction  of 
the  Lafayette  Apartments,  the  largest  family  residence  building  ever 
erected  in  the  city.  0.  D.  Center  became  county  farm  adviser  succeeding 
D.  0.  Thompson,  called  to  the  State  Agricultural  association. 

In  1920,  the  traffic  department,  under  charge  of  E.  L.  Henninger  had 
expanded  into  one  of  the  most  important  of  the  A.  of  C.  subsidiary  agen- 
cies. It  audited  25,000  freight  and  express  bills,  quoted  3,836  rates  to 
customers,  and  secured  refunds  of  $8,482  overcharges.  It  issued  a  weekly 
bulletin  of  its  activities,  and  traced  283  carloads  or  less  than  carload  ship- 
ments. The  year  witnessed  the  consummation  of  the  Meadows  enter- 
prise. The  Wesleyan  Committee  of  the  Association  of  Commerce  bought 
properties  near  the  Wesleyan  which  should  be  needed  in  its  proposed 
expansion  campaign.  There  were  more  than  1,000  members  this  year, 
and  the  total  sum  of  money  passing  through  the  office  was  $129,991. 

The  outstanding  achievement  in  the  1921  review  was  the  successful 
completion  of  the  Greater  Wesleyan  campaign,  under  the  chairmanship 
of  E.  M.  Evans,  which  was  wound  up  on  June  30  with  a  total  of  pledges 
$692,000  in  a  campaign  which  started  out  to  raise  $650,000.  The  report 
of  Secretary  Hudson  characterized  this  as  "the  greatest  single  project 
ever  undertaken  by  a  group  of  citizens  of  McLean  County."  In  further- 
ance of  the  program  made  possible  by  this  accomplishment,  there  had 
already  been  $100,000  of  real  estate  added  to  Wesleyan  holdings  near  the 
campus,  a  dwelling  had  been  acquired  north  of  Kemp  hall  as  further  dor- 
mitory room  for  girls,  the  $170,000  gymnasium  was  already  under  con- 
struction, and  plans  made  to  start  the  Buck  Memorial  library  in  the  spring. 
The  A.  of  C.  traffic  bureau  reported  a  busy  year,  having  adjusted  1,331 
overcharge  cases  and  secured  refund  of  $11,220  overcharges.  The  bureau 
had  assisted  the  Ritter  Motor  Bus  Company  in  starting  its  service  to 
outside  towns,  and  the  company  had  carried  7,328  passengers  between 
July  and  December.  Further  efforts  to  secure  reduced  rates  on  coal  ship- 
ments to  Normal  and  Bloomington  were  under  way.  The  credit  bureau 
under  W.  J.  Tuohy  had  answered  2,719  calls.  The  road  committee  was 
busy  with  oiling  projects  and  securing  right  of  way  for  state  paved  roads. 
The  Association  had  delivered  deeds  to  $14,457  worth  of  property  in  the 
A.  of  C.  addition,  making  a  total  delivered  $108,525,  with  $21,000  yet  to 
be  sold  or  delivered.  The  Association  had  helped  refinancing  the  Hamil- 
ton-Hayes Stove  company,  and  had  co-operated  with  the  American  Legion 


History  of  McLean  County  343 

in  work  for  the  McBarnes  Memorial  building.  There  had  been  18  miles 
of  road  oiled  out  of  Bloomington,  the  style  shows  and  Dollar  Days  of 
the  retail  interests  were  great  successes.  A  tourist  bureau  had  been 
maintained,  and  boulevard  lights  for  East  Washington  street  arranged 
for.  The  amount  of  money  handled  by  the  A.  of  C.  for  the  year  was 
$84,775. 

One  of  the  outstanding  features  of  Association  of  Commerce  activity 
in  1922  was  using  its  influence  in  bringing  about  a  settlement  of  the 
shopmen's  strike  at  the  Chicago  &  Alton.  A  complete  suspension  of  work 
at  the  great  Alton  plant  had  taken  place  July  1,  the  men  acting  in  con- 
junction with  their  fellow  craftsmen  all  over  the  country.  After  months 
of  inactivity,  the  A.  of  C.  through  its  president,  L.  G.  Whitmer,  brought 
the  union  officials  and  the  company  officials  together  in  a  series  of  con- 
ferences where  the  differences  were  threshed  out  and  a  basis  of  settle- 
ment arrived  at.  It  was  a  matter  of  good  news  to  all  concerned  when  the 
2,000  men  went  back  to  work.  The  A.  of  C.  traffic  bureau  had  another 
good  year,  auditing  100,000  freight  bills  and  securing  repayment  of  $8,873 
overcharges.  The  Credit  rating  bureau  answered  4,000  ca^ls  for  infor- 
mation, being  in  charge  of  W.  J.  Tuohy  and  E.  W.  Moeller.  A  good  start 
was  made  on  the  new  building  program  of  the  Wesleyan,  the  gymnasium 
and  library  being  under  construction.  Of  the  pledges  made  in  the  finan- 
cial campaign  of  the  previous  year,  there  had  been  $116,942  collected  up 
to  Jan.  1.  The  A.  of  C.  erected  a  memorial  gateway  at  the  Main  street 
entrance  of  the  campus  district. 

The  year  saw  the  actual  work  begun  in  the  betterment  of  the  Bloom- 
ington and  Normal  Sanitary  district,  by  the  deepening  and  widening  of 
Sugar  Creek  so  that  it  could  carry  all  flood  waters.  It  has  not  since  once 
overflowed.  The  A.  of  C.  assisted  in  the  celebration  and  setting  of  a 
stone  marker  at  Randolph  commemorating  the  100th  anniversary  of  the 
the  settlement  of  Gardner  Randolph  there.  The  move  into  the  large  new 
quarters  in  the  B.  S.  Green  building  was  made  on  November  1  of  this  year. 
The  project  for  the  refinancing  of  the  Meadows  Manufacturing  was  set 
upon  its  feet.  The  general  financial  statement  showed  $70,132  passed 
through  the  hands  of  the  treasurer. 

For  the  year  1923,  a  budget  system  was  prepared  and  followed.  The 
membership  was  824,  and  the  sum  of  money  passing  through  the  Asso- 
ciation was  $180,525.     At  the  annual  dinner  and  business  meeting  held 


344  History  of  McLean  County 

at  the  end  of  this  year,  when  over  1,000  people  were  present,  the  work 
of  the  year  was  grouped  under  the  headings  of  various  committees,  each 
of  which  reviewed  the  activities  of  1923.  These  committees  and  their 
chairmen  were  as  follows: 

Membership,  Roy  E.  Chew;  legislative,  Fred  W.  Wollrab;  Wesleyan; 
E.  M.  Evans;  retail  interests,  A.  Schwarzman;  roads,  J.  L.  Murray;  ad- 
vertising and  promotion,  John  W.  Rodgers,  jr. ;  entertainment,  C.  H.  Mar- 
quis; conventions,  George  C  .Heberling;  agriculture,  R.  C.  Baldwin;  audit, 
A.  V.  S.  Lloyd;  visiting  and  fellowship,  W.  W.  Tilden;  U.  S.  chamber  of 
commerce,  Paul  F.  Beich;  music,  C.  E.  Stewart;  water,  Sumner  Good- 
fellow;  trade  extension,  J.  P.  Klemm;  sanitation  and  health,  Ignatz  Led- 
erer;  retail  grocers,  Henry  Nierstheimer ;  finance  and  audit,  Charles  F. 
Agle;  public  improvements,  Harry  K.  Dick;  jobbing  interests,  Charles 
A.  Stephenson;  industrial  interests,  James  A.  Gray;  A.  of  C.  addition  to 
the  city,  Dan  W.  Snyder;  railroads  and  transportation,  R.  0.  Ahlenius; 
labor  relations,  Leroy  G.  Whitmer. 

In  1923,  because  of  the  general  depression  in  all  agricultural  lines, 
the  Meadowy  Manufacturing  Company  had  encountered  financial  diffi- 
culties. Through  the  A.  of  C,  settlements  were  effected  with  all  credit- 
ors and  a  special  committee  from  the  A.  of  C.  sold  $150,000  worth  of 
bonds,  the  proceeds  to  be  used  as  working  capital  by  the  Meadows  Com- 
pany. This  company  is  now  on  a  sound  financial  basis  and  their  product 
is  being  shipped  throughout  a  large  territory- 

The  Association  of  Commerce  has  been  of  great  assistance  in  the 
matter  of  hard  roads  development,  having  secured  many  important  sec- 
tions of  right-of-way  in  cases  where  the  lands  could  not  be  secured  by 
the  townships.  Approximately  $15,000  has  been  expended  by  the  A.  of  C. 
for  right-of-way  on  the  hard  roads  thus  far  completed.  There  is  also 
expended  $7,500  per  year  for  road  oil,  and  $2,500  per  year  on  roadside 
advertising.  Large  sign  boards  are  maintained  on  all  roads  leading  to 
Bloomington,  some  of  these  signs  being  placed  as  far  as  seventy-five  miles 
from  the  city.  Direction  arrows  point  the  way  to  Bloomington  from 
every  direction. 

The  affairs  of  the  Association  are  guided  by  a  board  of  24  directors 
who  serve  two-year  terms.  Each  director  is  chairman  of  a  standing  com- 
mittee. The  board  meets  the  first  and  third  Monday  of  each  month.  The 
Credit  Rating  bureau,  which  is  considered  one  of  the  most  efficient  in  the 


History  of  McLean  County  345 

United  States,  is  under  the  direct  supervision  of  the  Retail  Credit  Men's 
association.  Accurate  ledger  information  is  furnished  the  merchants  from 
files  kept  up  to  date.  A  daily  reporter  is  issued  by  this  department  which 
contains  copies  of  all  court  records,  property  transfers,  business  changes, 
removals  and  all  information  which  is  of  value  to  members  and  credit 
men.  The  Traffic  Bureau,  under  the  management  of  E.  L.  Henninger,  is 
supervised  by  the  Transportation  and  Jobbing  Interests  committees. 
Twelve  people  comprise  the  office  staff  of  the  Association  of  Commerce, 
and  it  is  the  clearing  house  for  all  community  activities. 


CHAPTER  XXIX. 


FARMERS  ORGANIZATIONS. 


BETTER  FARMING  ASSOCIATION  FORMED— D.  O.  THOMPSON'S  WORK — NAME 
CHANGED  TO  FARM  BUREAU— OFFICERS — MEMBERSHHIP— POULTRY  SHOW — 
SWINE  BREEDERS'  ASSOCIATIONS — SHORTHORN  CATTLE,  JERSEY  CATTLE 
AND  OTHER  ASSOCIATIONS — FEDERAL  LOANS — PRODUCER'S  MARKET — 
FARMERS  GRAIN   DEALERS  ASSOCIATION. 

Learning  a  lesson  from  all  the  other  forms  of  business  activity,  the 
agricultural  interests  began  to  discuss  some  form  of  permanent  organiza- 
tion for  mutual  interests  along  in  the  years  from  about  1912  to  1914. 
More  and  more  the  idea  of  organization  grew  in  the  minds  of  the  more 
wide-awake  farmers  of  the  county.  Eventually,  about  the  year  1914  or 
early  in  1915,  an  organization  to  be  known  as  the  McLean  County  Better 
Farming  Association  was  formed.  The  first  list  of  officers  included  the 
following:  President,  G.  C.  (Lyle)  Johnstone;  vice  president,  C.  L.  Mays; 
secretary,  Fred  J.  Blum;  treasurer,  W.  E.  Rayburn;  and  the  directors 
were  Allen  Brown,  Price  N.  Jones,  Charles  Yanney,  F.  J.  Hanley  and 
John  Kinsinger. 

Having  perfected  the  organization,  the  services  of  a  man  who  knew 
farm  problems  and  could  devote  his  time  to  helping  the  farmers  solve 
them  was  given  consideration.  After  casting  about  for  available  men, 
the  association  finally  employed  D.  0.  Thompson  (known  as  Dave).  He 
was  a  graduate  of  the  agricultural  college  of  Purdue,  was  young  and  full 
of  enthusiasm,  and  came  to  the  position  with  proper  equipment  and 
much  energy.  He  began  work  in  this  county  in  1916  and  served  through 
until  1919.    This  covered  the  period  of  the  world  war,  during  which  time 

346 


History  of  McLean  County  347 

the  farmers  of  the  country  were  called  upon  to  make  greater  effort  toward 
food  production  than  at  any  other  time  in  the  history  of  the  nation. 
McLean  county  farmers  took  their  place  alongside  the  best  farming  sec- 
tions of  the  country  in  advancing  war  time  production  and  the  scientific 
farming  in  general.  Mr.  Thompson's  reputation  had  spread  by  his  work 
here,  and  in  1919  he  was  called  to  higher  responsibilities  as  secretary  of 
the  Illinois  Agricultural  Association.  For  several  months  in  1919  were 
was  no  official  farm  adviser,  for  the  committee  had  difficulty  in  securing 
a  man  whom  they  felt  could  fit  into  the  work  that  had  been  advanced  by 
Mr.  Thompson.  In  the  latter  part  of  that  year,  however,  they  employed 
0.  D.  Center,  who  was  a  man  of  more  mature  years  and  of  much  practical 
experience.  He  remained  here  until  Sept.,  1921.  In  that  period  the 
McLean  County  Farm  Bureau  (the  name  having  been  changed  to  that) 
employed  R.  L.  Cuff  as  special  livestock  adviser,  and  he  carried  on  that 
branch  of  the  work  until  Dec,  1921.  Harrison  Fahrnkopf  was  employed 
by  the  Farm  Bureau  in  the  capacity  of  an  assistant  in  1920,  and  after  the 
resignations  of  Mr.  Center  and  Mr.  Cuff  he  became  the  official  farm 
adviser,  which  position  he  holds  at  this  time  (1923). 

The  name  of  the  Better  Farming  Association  was  changed  several 
years  ago  to  the  McLean  County  Farm  Bureau.  The  officers  of  this  asso- 
ciation are: 

1923 — Simon  C.  Moon,  Towanda,  president;  Sam  Elkins,  Dry  Grove, 
vice  president;  Vaughn  Douglas,  Shirley,  secretary;  Walter  Tenney, 
McLean,  treasurer.  Directors — John  Kinsinger,  Clifford  Brown,  Dave 
Stutzman,  H.  A.  Horney,  Walter  Nichols,  Frank  Moberly,  Homer  Caton. 

1924 — Officers  the  same  as  for  1923,  except  that  Harry  Dixon  of 
Covell  succeeds  Frank  Moberly  as  director. 

The  McLean  County  Farm  Bureau  began  in  April,  1923,  its  ninth 
consecutive  year  of  existence.  The  organization  justified  its  formation 
and  continued  existence  many  times  over  by  the  practical  value  it  proved 
to  its  members  and  the  farmers  in  general.  It  began  with  300  members, 
and  in  the  war  times  of  1917  to  1920  the  membership  ran  up  to  the  total 
of  3,100.  In  the  slump  of  1921  and  1922  the  number  dropped  back  to 
2,000  and  has  been  maintained  about  at  that  figure  in  the  last  year. 
The  work  of  the  organization  took  on  a  wide  range. 

For  the  past  twenty  years,  the  farmers  of  McLean  county  have 
maintained  a  winter  indoor  school,  so  to  speak,  known  as  the  McLean 


348  History  of  McLean  County 

County  Farmers'  Institute.  The  institute  held  in  this  county  is  one  of  a 
series  held  throughout  the  state  under  the  general  auspices  of  the  State 
Agricultural  Society.  Formerly  the  institute  was  held  for  four  or  five 
days  in  the  winter,  always  in  the  county  seat,  and  addressed  by  a  series  of 
eminent  speakers  along  different  lines.  Of  later  years,  the  meetings  have 
been  divided  up  into  smaller  units,  one  meeting  of  two  or  three  days' 
duration,  or  sometimes  of  a  single  day,  being  held  in  nearly  every  town- 
ship of  the  county.  Of  recent  years,  these  have  been  under  direction  of 
the  McLean  County  Farm  Bureau.  The  officers  of  the  Farmers'  Institute 
elected  in  1920  were:  C.  L.  Mays,  president;  W.  E.  Rayburn,  secretary. 
For  the  year  1921,  the  elected  officers  were:  W.  F.  Coolidge,  president; 
Ralph  Benjamin,  vice  president;  W.  E.  Rayburn,  secretary;  C.  E.  Hill, 
treasurer.  This  last  list  of  officers  was  re-elected  for  the  years  1922  and 
1923.  For  several  years  past,  S.  B.  Mason  of  this  county  has  served  as 
one  of  the  directors  of  the  State  Farmers'  Institute  for  this  congressional 
district. 

The  threshermen  of  McLean  county  have  maintained  an  organiza- 
tion known  as  the  McLean  County  Threshermen's  Association,  with  the 
following  officers:  C.  F.  Kauffman,  Stanford,  president;  A.  P.  Tyner, 
Danvers,  vice  president;  H.  B.  Noder,  Normal,  secretary. 

Many  years  ago  there  used  to  be  held  an  annual  poultry  show  under 
management  of  a  city  poultry  association.  Of  recent  years  this  project 
has  been  taken  over  by  the  farmers  and  poultry  raisers,  who  held  a  fine 
show  in  Dec,  1922,  and  another  in  the  winter  of  1923-24.  The  officers 
elected  were:  E.  D.  Lawrence,  president;  C.  L.  Albee,  vice  president;  Mrs. 
F.  J.  Blum,  Normal,  secretary ;  A.  C.  Lantz,  Normal,  treasurer.  Directors, 
Lyle  Funk,  Chas.  Stiger,  C.  E.  Hill,  B.  Riseling,  Mrs.  Whitwood.  A  mar- 
keting auxiliary  to  the  Poultry  association  was  organized  in  March,  1923, 
to  market  full  blood  stock.  Its  officers  were:  I.  N.  Price  of  Ellsworth, 
chairman;  Mrs.  C.  M.  Fifer,  Bloomington,  and  William  Ertmoed  of  Lex- 
ington, directors.  The  board  of  supervisors  appropriated  $250  for  the 
first  poultry  show  under  the  auspices  of  this  society. 

A  McLean  County  Beekeepers'  association  was  formed  in  February, 
1922,  and  at  the  first  annual  meeting  in  1923  the  following  officers  were 
elected:  Dr.  H.  B.  Henline,  Bloomington,  president;  W.  L.  Archer,  McLean, 
vice  president;  W.  B.  Brigham,  Bloomington,  secretary-treasurer. 


History  of  McLean  County  349 

The  McLean  County  Swine  Breeders'  association  is  a  live  and  pro- 
gressive organization.  Its  1923  officers  were:  W.  D.  Brickey,  Bloomington, 
president;  Simon  Moon,  Towanda,  vice  president;  F.  J.  Basting,  Bloom- 
ington, secretary;  J.  E.  Donnelly,  Lexington,  treasurer.  The  association 
co-operated  with  the  officials  of  the  LeRoy  Fair  in  holding  the  county 
Swine  Show.  This  show  was  pronounced  by  authorities  in  touch  with 
the  different  fairs  of  the  state  as  ranking  one  of  the  very  best  held  any- 
where. The  large  number  of  animals  shown  in  the  different  breeds  pos- 
sessed a  type  and  quality  which  is  the  resultant  only  of  constructive 
breeding.  The  members  of  the  swine  breeders  association  fostered  the 
Boy  and  Girl  Pig  Club  show.  They  helped  make  arrangements  for  the 
show,  furnished  the  judges  and  also  paid  a  goodly  part  of  the  prize  money. 

One  of  the  organizations  in  the  county  which  has  been  of  the  incal- 
culable value  to  its  members  is  the  McLean  County  Cow  Testing  associa- 
tion. This  association  was  reorganized  during  the  past  year  and  very 
good  reports  have  come  from  the  various  members.  There  are  twenty-six 
herds  containing  approximately  six  hundred  seventy  cows  in  the  associa- 
tion. For  the  year  1921-1922  approximately  one  hundred  unprofitable 
cows  were  sold.  The  officers  for  1923  were:  President,  C.  M.  Mounts, 
McLean;  secretary,  J.  L.  Withrow,  McLean;  treasurer,  Pearl  Mauny, 
Bloomington. 

The  McLean  County  Jersey  Cattle  club  is  formed  to  promote  the  in- 
terests of  owners  of  Jersey  cattle.  The  officers  are:  President,  D.  M. 
Stutzman,  Chenoa ;  secretary,  Lloyd  H.  Mason,  Armington ;  treasurer, 
W.  L.  Mays,  Bloomington. 

Shorthorn  cattle  owners  and  breeders  also  organized  an  association, 
whose  officers  in  1923  were:  President,  John  0.  Bozarth,  Gillum;  vice 
president,  W.  T.  Stautz,  Bloomington;  treasurer,  Sam  Elkins,  Blooming- 
ton; secretary,  Ebon  C.  Jones,  Bloomington;  directors,  C.  C.  Brown  of 
Heyworth  and  W.  F.  Mecherle  of  Heyworth. 

Swine  breeders  who  are  especially  interested  in  Durocs  have  formed 
an  association  of  their  own,  with  the  following  officers:  President,  Fred 
J.  Blum,  Bloomington;  vice  president,  Simon  Moon,  Towanda;  secretary, 
F.  J.  Basting,  Bloomington;  treasurer,  G.  C.  Johnstone,  Shirley. 

Horsemen  have  been  active  and  up  to  date  in  the  last  few  years, 
in  spite  of  the  fact  that  the  breeding  of  heavy  horses  is  not  now  what  it 


350  History  of  McLean  County 

used  to  be  in  this  county.  The  McLean  County  Percheron  association  is 
officered  as  follows:  President,  Dan  Augstin,  Carlock;  vice  president,  M. 
L.  Ramseyer,  Hudson;  treasurer,  L.  F.  Stubblefield,  McLean;  committee- 
man, C.  L.  Mays,  Bloomington;  directors,  S.  L.  Stutzman,  Ed  Miller,  Fred 
Blum,  E.  M.  Merritt,  William  Henline,  John  Peck. 

The  farmers  of  McLean  county  have  formed  a  county  branch  of  the 
Federal  Farm  Loan  organization,  with  the  following  officers:  President, 
Frank  Stewart,  Lexington;  vice  president,  John  Howard,  Leroy;  secre- 
tary-treasurer, Harrison  Fahrnkopf,  Bloomington;  directors,  J.  Ben  Mc- 
Reynolds,  Stanford;  Mrs.  Flora  Orendorff,  Randolph. 

One  of  the  biggest  projects  which  the  County  Farm  Bureau  has  under- 
taken was  the  securing  of  a  building  for  the  use  of  the  Producers'  Market 
and  an  office  headquarters  for  the  Home  Bureau  and  the  Farm  Bureau. 
The  building  at  the  corner  of  Center  and  Monroe  streets  in  Bloomington 
was  leased,  and  considerable  money  spent  in  remodeling  and  renovating 
it  to  make  it  fit  for  its  new  uses.  The  structure  had  many  years  ago  been 
an  armory,  and  earlier  than  that  a  library  building. 

Farmers  Grain  Dealers  Association  of  Illinois,  an  affiliation  of  550 
Farmers  Co-operative  Elevator  Companies  in  Illinois,  was  organized  at 
Springfield,  Feb.  19,  1903.  At  that  time  there  were  about  30  Farmers 
Co-operative  Elevator  Companies  in  Illinois  and  17  of  them  were  repre- 
sented at  that  meeting.  J.  C.  Collins  was  the  first  president  and  J.  A. 
McCreery  the  first  secretary.  Mr.  McCreery  continued  his  duties  as  man- 
ager of  the  Mason  City  Farmers  Grain  and  Coal  Company,  giving  only 
part  of  his  time  to  the  Association  work.  The  office  remained  at  Mason 
City  while  Mr.  McCreery  was  secretary.  In  1913  A.  N.  Steinhart  was 
employed  as  secretary  to  give  his  full  time  to  the  work.  At  that  time 
the  office  was  located  at  Bloomington,  where  it  has  since  remained.  The 
association  now  occupies  two  rooms  in  the  Peoples  Bank  Building,  with 
Lawrence  Farlow  as  secretary  and  two  office  assistants.  Fred  A.  Mudge 
of  Peru,  111.,  is  president  of  the  organization. 


CHAPTER  XXX. 


HOME  BUREAU. 


PERMANENTLY  ORGANIZED — FIRST  OFFICERS — BRANCHES — VARIETY  OF  WORK — 
MONTHLY  BULLETIN— VARIOUS  ACTIVITIES. 

One  of  the  modern  developments  of  McLean  county  which  indicates 
its  progress  is  the  permanent  organization  of  the  McLean  County  Home 
Bureau,  composed  mostly  of  farm  women  and  women  from  the  rural 
communities  who  work  together  for  the  promotion  of  the  best  interests 
of  their  homes  and  families.  The  organization  had  its  inception  in  the 
work  of  the  women  in  the  world  war,  and  took  on  its  permanent  form 
in  1918,  when  the  name  of  the  McLean  County  Home  Improvement  Asso- 
ciation was  taken.  This  name,  however,  was  shortly  changed  to  that  of 
the  McLean  County  Home  Bureau,  which  is  still  maintained.  The  or- 
ganization is  now  in  its  sixth  year  of  successful  existence.  McLean  county 
was  the  eighth  county  in  Illinois  to  form  a  Home  Bureau.  It  is  the  only 
county  which  has  constantly  since  it  started  employed  the  same  field 
secretary,  or  as  she  is  known,  the  home  adviser,  in  the  person  of  Miss 
Clara  Brian. 

Mrs.  Spencer  Ewing  of  Bloomington  was  the  moving  spirit  in  the 
organization  of  the  Home  Bureau,  and  acted  as  its  first  president.  She 
continued  to  serve  for  two  years  and  a  half,  then  was  succeeded  by  Mrs. 
Homer  R.  Johnson,  who  filled  out  Mrs.  Ewing's  last  year  and  served  two 
other  years.  Mrs.  F.  L.  Wakefield  of  Heyworth  is  the  present  president 
(1923).  Mrs.  Homer  R.  Johnson  was  the  first  county  secretary,  being 
succeeded  by  Mrs.  Jennie  Barlow,  and  she  in  turn  by  Mrs.  Charles  Yan- 
cey of  McLean,   the  present   secretary.     The  first  treasurer  was  Mrs. 

351 


352  History  of  McLean  County 

Allen  Brown  of  Normal,  who  was  succeeded  by  Mrs.  William  L.  Moore 
of  Bloomington,  and  she  in  turn  by  Mrs.  W.  E.  Clark  of  Bloomington.  The 
last  and  present  treasurer  is  Mrs.  Frank  L.  Washburn  of  Bloomington. 

The  county  organization  comprises  26  branches,  one  for  each  town- 
ship, and  there  being  one  branch  for  Bloomington  city  and  one  for  Bloom- 
ington township.  The  financial  backing  of  the  Home  Bureau  is  included 
in  an  annual  budget  of  $5,500,  of  which  sum  $1,500  comes  from  the  fed- 
eral government;  $1,000  is  appropriated  each  year  by  the  county  board 
of  supervisors,  and  the  remainder,  $3,000,  is  secured  by  individual  con- 
tributions in  the  form  of  annual  dues  of  $1  each  from  the  members.  It 
is  a  unique  fact  that  in  the  six  years  of  the  bureau's  work,  the  member- 
ships have  been  maintained  by  the  township  units  without  any  special 
drive  for  membership.  At  no  time  has  the  real  work  of  the  employed 
home  adviser  been  diverted  to  solicitation  for  funds  to  maintain  the 
organization.  The  executive  management  of  the  bureau  is  composed  of 
the  roster  of  county  officers,  together  with  one  director  for  each  unit, 
these  composing  the  executive  board.  The  headquarters  of  the  bureau 
is  in  the  building  leased  by  the  County  Farm  Bureau  in  Bloomington. 
Miss  Brian,  the  home  adviser,  has  her  office  there,  with  an  office  secretary 
to  assist  her.  There  were  about  1,400  members  in  1923,  and  the  same 
number  had  made  up  the  organization  for  the  past  few  years,  following 
the  larger  figure  during  the  war. 

The  work  of  the  Home  Bureau  is  varied,  as  the  name  of  the  organi- 
zation indicates;  its  aim  is  to  make  better  homes  and  more  efficient 
home-makers.  In  its  second  year,  a  series  of  courses  of  study  for  women 
was  outlined  and  submitted  to  the  different  units  for  consideration.  Each 
unit  votes  on  which  course  it  shall  take,  and  the  majority  picks  the  course. 
This  later  is  succeeded  by  other  courses  in  turn.  For  instance,  one  course 
is  on  meal  planning,  and  seven  months  of  study  is  devoted  to  this  subject. 
There  have  been  two  schools  of  instruction  carried  on  in  home  millinery. 
A  course  in  the  making  of  baskets  of  all  kinds  from  crepe  paper  rope  was 
carried  on,  and  many  women  became  very  proficient.  There  have  been 
demonstrations  in  the  uses  of  the  pressure  cooker,  and  sanitary  methods 
of  canning  foods  in  tin  were  among  the  other  subjects  dealt  with.  The 
course  for  home  nursing  includes  seven  lessons.  There  is  a  course  in 
meal  planning  with  seven  lessons.  The  course  in  sewing  and  textiles 
deals  in  practical  dressmaking,  artistic  dressmaking,  undergarments,  dress 


Histury  of  McLean  County  353 

forms,  and  experiences  in  dyeing  materials.  There  is  a  second  sewing 
course,  in  which  adviser  and  local  leader  work  together  in  demonstra- 
tions on  cutting  and  fitting.  Home  accounting  and  equipment  is  the  sub- 
ject of  one  course.  Home  and  community  life  is  the  general  topic  for 
another  course  of  five  lessons.  Preparation  of  food  is  the  subject  of 
study  in  one  course. 

The  Home  Bureau  publishes  a  monthly  bulletin  of  four  pages,  which 
is  supported  by  advertising  patronage  of  merchants.  This  has  been  one 
of  the  most  effective  agents  of  the  bureau's  publicity  work.  The  news- 
papers have  devoted  liberal  quantities  of  space  to  work  of  the  Bureau 
through  all  the  years. 

A  well  organized  campaign  for  the  teaching  of  the  value  of  hot 
lunches  in  schools,  especially  in  the  rural  districts,  was  carried  on  for 
some  time,  and  had  its  results  in  the  general  introduction  of  this  valued 
feature  for  the  proper  care  of  children  of  the  schools. 

That  the  Home  Bureau  may  be  of  practical  benefit  in  other  than  the 
rural  districts  is  shown  in  its  work  in  Bloomington,  where  in  co-operation 
with  the  Day  Nursery  and  the  Federation  of  Churches  it  carried  on  a 
series  of  classes  in  home  cooking  at  the  Day  Nursery,  for  the  benefit  of 
women  of  that  section  of  the  city  who  lacked  opportunities  which  more 
favored  sections  enjoyed  to  learn  of  modern  home  methods.  The  Day 
Nursery  furnished  the  equipment,  the  Federation  of  Churches  the  money, 
and  the  Home  Bureau  the  instructor.  Two  years  these  classes  have  been 
in  successful  operation. 


(21) 


CHAPTER  XXXI. 


LIBRARIES  OF  THE  COUNTY. 


FIRST  COLLECTION  OF  BOOKS— EARLY  LIBRARIES—  BLOOMINGTON  AND  McLEAN 
COUNTY  LIBRARY— LADIES'  LIBRARY  ASSOCIATION — WITHERS'  LIBRARY — 
WESLEYAN  AND  ILLINOIS  STATE  NORMAL  LIBRARIES— C.  &  A.  LIBRARY — 
OTHER   LIBRARIES. 

The  public  libraries  of  McLean  County  have  proved  a  first  aid  to  the 
public  school  system.  They  have  enabled  students  to  pursue  a  wider 
range  of  reading  than  could  have  been  possible  if  everyone  were  obliged 
to  buy  his  own  books.  From  the  earlier  years,  the  need  of  public  libraries 
at  several  points  in  the  county  was  recognized.  The  very  first  collection 
of  books  brought  to  the  county  was  in  1833,  when  Amasa  C.  Washburn 
returned  from  the  east  with  a  small  array  of  books,  which  he  placed  at 
the  disposal  of  the  Sunday  school  of  the  First  Presbyterian  church. 

About  1840,  the  Bloomington  and  McLean  County  Library  was  es- 
tablished with  about  1,000  volumes,  those  responsible  for  its  establish- 
ment being  Jesse  W.  Fell,  Dr.  John  F.  Henry,  Dr.  W.  C.  Hobbs  and  James 
Allin.  After  being  used  for  a  few  years  the  books  became  worn  out  and 
scattered  and  the  library  as  an  institution  was  lost. 

The  Ladies'  Library  Association  was  the  next  organized  effort  to 
have  a  public  library,  it  being  formed  at  a  meeting  held  Oct.  2,  1856,  at 
Major's  hall,  where  $417  was  raised  as  a  nucleus  of  a  library  fund.  The 
library  was  opened  in  February,  1856,  first  in  a  room  on  Center  street, 
then  removed  to  Judge  Davis'  building  at  Front  and  Main,  where  free 
quarters  had  been  offered.  This,  the  predecessor  of  the  present  Blooming- 
ton  library,  had  a  changing  history  and  many  moves.  In  1865  it  moved 
from  the  Davis  building  to  the  second  floor  of  the  building  at  403  North 

354 


History  of  McLean  County  355 

Main  street,  where  it  remained  until  1871.  The  next  move  was  to  109 
and  111  West  Monroe  street,  and  it  remained  there  until  the  year  1887, 
when  it  made  its  final  move  to  the  building  at  the  corner  of  Washington 
and  East  street. 

The  Ladies'  Library  association  was  in  1867  incorporated  as  the 
Bloomington  Library  association.  Its  stock  of  books  and  other  material 
increased  as  years  rolled  on,  and  in  1882,  Mrs.  Sarah  B.  Withers  presented 
to  the  association  the  lot  at  Washington  and  East  street  for  the  purpose 
of  having  erected  there  a  suitable  building.  The  library  was  still  under 
direction  of  a  board  of  management  and  supported  by  private  donations. 
The  sum  of  $20,000  was  subscribed  for  the  building,  which  was  con- 
structed and  dedicated  in  December,  1887.  It  was  named  the  Withers 
public  library  in  honor  of  Mrs.  Withers.  In  1894,  the  board  offered  to 
the  city  of  Bloomington  the  library  and  its  building  and  grounds,  subject 
only  to  a  debt  of  $4,000  which  remained  unpaid.  It  was  accepted  by  the 
city  council  and  later  a  library  tax  was  assessed  for  the  support  of  the 
institution.  The  members  of  the  board  are  now  appointed  by  the  mayor 
of  the  city  for  terms  of  three  years. 

For  a  few  years  after  the  library  occupied  its  new  building,  the 
upper  story  was  used  as  club  rooms  by  the  Bloomington  club,  which  paid 
a  rental.  However,  it  became  necessary  in  time  that  the  library  have 
the  entire  structure,  hence  the  Bloomington  club  formed  plans  for  a  bond 
issue  to  erect  its  present  modern  three-story  brick  building  which  stands 
east  of  the  library.  The  library  then  remodeled  the  upper  story  of  its 
building  into  a  reading  and  reference  room.  The  library  has  a  large  col- 
lection of  books,  upward  of  40,000  volumes,  and  is  patronized  by  thousands 
of  Bloomington  people  and  some  from  outside  who  pay  a  small  fee.  Miss 
Nellie  Parham  is  the  present  librarian,  having  occupied  the  position  for 
several  years. 

The  Wesleyan  University  has  a  very  fine  library  which  is  independent 
of  the  city  library.  It  occupies  a  fine  new  stone  building  which  was  a 
gift  of  Mrs.  Martha  Buck  of  Decatur  as  a  memorial  to  her  husband,  Hiram 
Buck.  The  structure  was  erected  and  dedicated  in  1923.  It  stands  just 
opposite  the  main  campus,  is  a  massive  building  and  very  perfect  in  its 
appointments  for  the  uses  for  which  it  is  designed.  The  library  prior 
to  the  building  of  the  Buck  Memorial,  had  been  housed  in  the  old  academy 
building  of  the  Wesleyan,  a  too  small  and  wholly  inadequate  structure. 


356  History  of  McLean  County 

The  Illinois  State  Normal  University  has  one  of  the  best  libraries  for 
the  use  of  the  students  of  the  school.  It  has  been  in  existence  and  grow- 
ing from  the  very  first  year  of  the  school.  Supt.  Hovey  reported  at  the 
end  of  the  University's  first  year  that  there  were  145  volumes  in  the 
Philadelphia  society  library,  same  number  for  the  Wrightonian  society, 
103  public  documents,  2,600  volumes  in  the  text-book  library,  95  reference 
books,  and  44  maps  in  the  geographical  section.  From  that  beginning,  its 
growth  has  been  constant.  The  Illinois  State  Natural  History  society 
established  itself  in  the  Normal  University  in  1860,  bringing  500  volumes 
of  scientific  works.  The  libraries  of  the  two  literary  societies  increased 
to  2,000  volumes  by  1890.  Great  quantities  of  public  documents  are  re- 
ceived annually  from  various  departments  of  the  government.  For  many 
years,  up  to  the  administration  of  Dr.  Edwards  as  president,  the  school 
furnished  free  text  books  to  the  students,  but  this  practice  was  discon- 
tinued later  and  few  text  books  remain.  The  books  of  the  State  Natural 
History  society  were  divided  in  1884-5,  a  part  of  them  being  removed  to 
the  University  of  Illinois,  leaving  at  Normal  the  books  adapted  to  teach- 
ing natural  history,  and  these  have  slowly  increased  in  number. 

The  first  little  collection  of  reference  works  was  the  nucleus  of  the 
present  library.  It  was  at  first  in  charge  of  student  librarians,  but  in 
1899  President  Hewett  recommended  that  the  books  be  catalogued  and  a 
regular  librarian  employed.  Early  in  1890  Miss  Ange  V.  Milner  was 
engaged  for  this  work,  and  she  still  continues  in  charge.  The  books  of 
the  two  literary  societies  were  added  to  the  general  library,  and  the  whole 
removed  to  larger  rooms.  On  the  completion  of  the  gymnasium  build- 
ing, the  library  was  established  in  the  second  floor  with  ample  space  for 
those  days,  although  now  somewhat  crowded.  This  move  was  made  in 
1898.  In  1914  it  was  moved  to  spacious  quarters  in  the  Model  School 
building.  Missionary  reference  books  were  added  for  the  use  of  the  Y.  M. 
and  Y.  W.  C.  A.  President  John  W.  Cook  and  President  Arnold  Tompkins 
each  made  improvements  in  the  administration  of  the  library,  and  under 
President  David  Felmley  other  changes  have  been  made.  The  methods 
of  giving  library  instruction  have  been  changed  and  improved.  Students 
assist  the  trained  librarian.  The  Normal  University  library  now  con- 
tains something  like  20,000  bound  volumes,  some  10,000  pamphlets,  and 
subscribes  to  upward  of  100  periodicals.  Special  books  connected  with 
each  study  in  the  curriculum  are  kept,  and  many  special  works  on  peda- 


History  gf  McLean  County  357 

gogical  subjects  are  also  to  bo  found.  Students  and  faculty  members  are 
constant  patrons,  the  library  being  kept  open  in  daytimes  throughout  the 
year  and  during  evenings  in  the  summer  terms.  Alumni  of  the  university 
are  also  frequent  visitors  to  use  the  books. 

In  addition  to  the  general  public  library  and  the  ones  connected  with 
the  Wesleyan  and  the  Normal  universities,  there  is  still  another  public 
library  in  Bloomington,  it  being  the  Chicago  &  Alton  railroad  library, 
located  in  a  building  set  apart  by  the  company  for  that  purpose  just  north 


it»£^ 


SMITH  LIBRARY,  LEXINGTON,  ILL. 

of  Chestnut  street  and  adjoining  the  railroad  property  for  the  accommo- 
dation of  the  employes.  The  C.  &  A.  library  association  was  organized  at 
the  home  of  E.  M.  Prince  in  the  winter  of  1879.  Entertainments  to  secure, 
funds  gave  a  fund  of  about  $200  to  start.  Soon  afterward  the  company 
erected  the  frame  building  for  its  accommodation,  and  directors  donated 
$1,100  to  a  fund  to  buy  books.  The  first  1,000  volumes  were  thus  pro- 
vided, and  in  1880  the  association  was  incorporated.  The  incorporators 
were  Mrs.  E.  M.  Prince,  Mrs.  VV.  O.  Stahl,  E.  N.  Edmunds  and  Robert 
Bell.     From  the  start,  the  library  was  well  patronized  by  Alton  railroad 


358  History  Of  McLean  County 

men  and  their  families.  Over  300  members  are  on  the  lists  for  taking 
out  books  regularly.  Miss  Margaret  Fenton  has  been  the  librarian  in 
charge  for  many  years,  and  she  is  well  acquainted  with  all  the  patrons 
and  their  needs.  There  are  nearly  5,000  volumes,  besides  many  periodi- 
cals regularly  received.  The  company  furnishes  and  lights  and  heats  the 
building  and  pays  the  librarian.    The  members  pay  the  other  expenses. 

Several  of  the  towns  of  McLean  county  outside  of  Bloomington  have 
smaller  but  very  complete  and  efficient  libraries  for  their  own  people  to 
use.  One  of  the  best  of  these  is  at  Lexington,  which  was  founded  in 
1895  as  a  result  of  a  public  meeting  called  by  Mrs.  L.  S.  VanDolah.  Money 
was  pledged,  an  executive  committee  appointed,  and  plans  made  for  pro- 
viding a  public  reading  room.  The  first  executive  committee  was  com- 
posed of:  A.  J.  Scrogin,  chairman;  Mrs.  L.  S.  Van  Dolah,  vice  president; 
Prof.  Jesse  Smith,  secretary.  This  committee  conducted  the  library  until 
it  came  into  control  of  the  city  of  Lexington  in  1897.  The  reading  room 
was  opened  in  January,  1896,  with  funds  in  sight  for  only  one  year's 
support.  In  August  of  that  year  the  city  council  levied  a  one  mill  tax 
for  library  purposes,  and  the  mayor  named  a  board  of  control.  Jesse  L. 
Smith  was  the  first  chairman  of  the  municipal  board  of  control. 

The  reading  room  developed  into  a  full  fledged  library  in  1898,  when 
the  first  installment  of  books  for  general  circulation  was  received.  By 
private  generosity  and  money  raised  by  entertainments,  frequent  addi- 
tions have  been  made,  the  Woman's  club  and  the  Music  club  being  among 
the  most  active  supporters.  About  1905  the  library  expanded  into  two 
rooms,  one  for  adults  and  one  for  juveniles.  It  has  a  circulating  stock 
of  books  numbering  almost  2,000  volumes,  and  subscribes  for  about  thirty 
periodicals.    It  is  kept  open  afternoons  and  certain  hours  of  the  evenings. 

Miss  Mary  V.  Gray,  afterward  Mrs.  Benj.  Bertles,  was  the  first 
librarian,  from  1896  to  1897,  when  she  was  succeeded  by  Lela  Gray  God- 
dard,  who  in  turn  was  succeeded  by  Mrs.  Ella  Dooan,  who  served  three 
years.  Miss  Angeline  Mahan  served  some  months  in  1904,  during  which 
time  she  introduced  the  Dewey  Decimal  system  of  cataloging.  On  her 
resignation,  Miss  Nellie  Brown  was  chosen,  serving  until  1907.  Miss  Anna 
V.  Pierson  served  as  the  librarian  for  several  years,  until  her  marriage  to 
Harry  Blue.  The  present  librarian  is  Miss  Lois  I.  McFarland,  who  has 
held  the  position  since  the  resignation  of  Miss  Pierson.  The  make-up  of 
the  library  board  at  the  present  time  is  as  follows:  President,  Mrs.  Addie 


History  of  McLean  County  359 

J.  Kennedy ;  secretary,  Dr.  L.  M.  Magill ;  treasurer,  Mrs.  Alta  Arnold ; 
Mrs.  Bess  Schantz,  Mrs.  Nettie  Dement,  Mrs.  Frances  Finfgeld,  Dr.  W.  H. 
Welch,  H.  Ellis,  and  H.  L.  Hyre. 

The  Bloomington  high  school  has  a  large  library  for  the  benefit  of  the 
students  of  that  school.  It  has  been  gradually  growing  through  the 
years,  and  is  now  established  in  very  fine  rooms  in  the  new  high  school 
building  which  was  dedicated  in  1916.  Miss  Emma  Onstott  is  the  librar- 
ian and  has  filled  the  position  with  efficiency  for  many  years. 


CHAPTER  XXXII. 


SOLDIERS'  ORPHANS'  HOME. 


HAD  INCEPTION  HERE — ESTABLISHED  IN  1865 — LOCATION  CONTESTED — TEMPO- 
RARY HOME  OPENED  IN  1867 — EARLY  SUPERINTENDENTS— RALPH  SP  AF- 
FORD— MANAGING  OFFICER. 

Aside  from  the  Normal  university,  the  only  state  institution  in 
McLean  county  is  the  Illinois  Soldiers'  Orphans'  Home,  located  about  a 
mile  northeast  of  the  center. of  Normal.  It  had  its  inception  in  a  public 
meeting  held  January  19,  1864,  in  which  the  people  of  Bloomington  sent 
a  memorial  to  the  legislature  calling  attention  to  the  need  of  an  institution 
to  care  for  the  dependent  children  of  civil  war  soldiers.  This  memorial 
from  McLean  county  found  a  ready  response  throughout  the  state,  and  on 
Feb.  7,  1865,  the  legislature  passed  an  act  establishing  such  a  home  and 
empowering  the  governor  to  appoint  nine  trustees.  A  commission  of 
five  persons  was  appointed  by  the  governor  to  secure  a  location  for  this 
institution.  At  first  there  was  no  appropriation  of  state  money  to  estab- 
lish or  maintain  such  a  home,  and  consequently  various  counties  made 
voluntary  donations  for  it  in  the  earlier  days.  In  1867,  an  amendment 
to  the  original  act  was  made,  whereby  a  sum  of  $34,000  in  the  state 
treasury  left  from  the  "deserters'  fund"  was  turned  over  to  the  trustees. 
A  further  appropriation  of  $70,000  was  appropriated  for  buying  grounds, 
etc.  The  act  released  the  counties  which  had  voted  voluntary  contribu- 
tions to  the  Home. 

In  1869,  further  amendments  were  made  to  the  act,  granting  enlarged 
powers  to  the  trustees.  But  the  chief  feature  of  this  act  was  the  appro- 
priation of  $45,000  per  year  for  the  next  two  years  for  the  expenses  of 
the  Home,  besides  certain  other  sums  for  buildings,  etc.     In  the  law  of 

360 


History  of  McLean  County 


361 


April  15,  1875,  the  name  of  the  institution  was  officially  made  the  "Illinois 
Soldiers'  Orphans'  Home."  By  an  act  of  1897,  the  age  limit  to  which 
children  could  be  kept  in  the  Home  was  extended  from  14  to  16  years, 
and  in  certain  cases  of  peculiar  need  to  18  years. 


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362  History  of  McLean  County 

A  law  was  passed  in  1899  which  removed  the  restriction  of  the  ad- 
mittance of  only  civil  war  orphans,  and  made  the  Home  accessible  to  or- 
phans of  the  soldiers  or  sailors  of  any  war.  Under  this  act,  many  orphans 
of  Spanish  war  veterans  were  received,  and  lately  even  orphans  of  World 
war  veterans. 

The  location  of  the  Soldiers'  Orphans'  Home  at  Normal  was  the 
result  of  liberal  offers  made  by  the  citizens  of  Normal,  under  the  leader- 
ship of  Jesse  W.  Fell,  who  had  previously  been  so  largely  instrumental  in 
locating  the  Normal  university  there. 

Under  the  act  of  the  legislature  of  1867,  the  governor  appointed  a 
commission  to  locate  the  Home,  of  which  Dr.  H.  C.  John  of  Decatur,  Col. 
W.  Wiles  of  Bellville,  Major  J.  M.  Beardsley  of  Rock  Island,  Col.  J.  H. 
Raymond  of  Geneva,  and  Col.  T.  A.  Marshall  of  Charleston  were  the  mem- 
bers. This  led  to  a  lively  contest,  and  the  citizens  of  Normal  organized 
and  made  pledges  of  money  and  lands  estimated  at  $50,220.  David  Davis 
gave  80  acres  of  land,  valued  at  $12,000,  Jesse  W.  Fell  gave  '  2,000  acres 
valued  at  $10,000,  Kersey  H.  Fell  gave  160  acres  worth  $2,000,  W.  H. 
Mann  gave  $1,000  in  land,  H.  P.  Taylor  20  acres  valued  at  $2,400,  W.  A. 
Pennell  gave  $1,000,  N.  Dixon  gave  land  worth  $1,000,  F.  K.  Phoenix 
gave  20  acres  worth  $2,500,  while  W.  H.  Allin,  G.  Diedrich  and  C.  G. 
McClure  gave  $1,000  each.  The  Chicago  &  Alton  donated  freight  haulage 
to  the  amount  of  $10,000. 

When  the  commission  met,  it  was  found  Normal's  offer  amounted  to 
$50,220;  Springfield  pledged  in  cash  and  land  $60,000,  and  Rock  Island 
gave  cash  and  land  worth  $15,000.  Decatur  offered  22  acres  of  land  and 
Irving  40  acres.  After  due  consideration,  On  May  3,  1867,  the  Normal 
offer  was  accepted.  The  contracts  were  awarded  and  buildings  erected, 
which  were  dedicated  on  June  17,  1869.  The  cost  of  this  first  main  struc- 
ture was  $125,000.  It  still  stands,  being  four  stories  in  height,  140  feet 
long  and  80  feet  wide.  In  1872  more  room  being  needed,  a  kitchen,  and 
boiler  house,  were  built  back  of  the  first  structure,  costing  $6,000,  and  a 
steam  heating  plant  installed  at  a  cost  of  $12,000.  The  school  house  was 
erected  soon  afterward  costing  $15,000,  and  the  hospital  in  1881  for 
$5,000.  In  1889  the  legislature  appropriated  $66,618  for  a  new  chapel, 
dining  hall,  new  heating  plant  and  other  additions,  which  were  soon 
erected.  In  1891  an  electric  light  plant  was  erected  at  a  cost  of  $4,000. 
In  1895  an  industrial  training  building  for  boys  was  erected  and  in  1899 


History  of  McLean  County  363 

a  new  hospital  was  built  west  of  the  main  structure  costing  $10,000  and 
the  old  hospital  was  changed  to  an  industrial  building  for  girls.  A  few 
years  ago  the  cottage  system  was  installed,  and  a  row  of  cottages  erected 
along  the  driveway  south  and  east  of  the  main  building.  In  each  of  these 
cottages  there  live  about  thirty  children  in  charge  of  a  house  mother, 
who  has  all  care  of  them  except  for  their  schooling.  There  are  six  of 
these  cottages  at  present. 

The  Orphans'  Home  was  first  opened  in  a  building  secured  for  tem- 
porary use  on  Main  street  in  Bloomington  on  August  5,  1867,  nearly  two 
years  before  the  main  building  at  Normal  was  completed.  Mrs.  Ira  Mer- 
chant had  charge  of  this  temporary  home.  A  second  temporary  home 
became  a  necessity  in  a  few  months,  and  another  house  was  secured  at 
Prairie  and  North  streets,  where  Mr.  and  Mrs.  B.  V.  Sharp  were  placed 
in  charge.  The  third  house  was  opened  in  February,  1868,  at  Springfield, 
in  charge  of  Mrs.  Virginia  C.  Ohr,  who  later  became  general  superintend- 
ent of  the  new  Home  when  opened  at  Normal. 

All  the  children  from  the  three  temporary  homes  were  transferred 
to  the  new  buildings  at  Normal  on  June  1,  1869,  and  Mrs.  Ohr  assumed 
charge  as  first  superintendent.  Mrs.  Ohr's  management  of  the  Home  con- 
tinued nearly  twenty  years,  or  until  the  spring  of  1887.  She  conducted 
the  institution  with  a  minimum  of  friction.  She  introduced  humanitarian 
methods  of  treatment  which  come  down  among  the  wholesome  traditions 
of  the  Home. 

When  Mrs.  Ohr  retired,  the  Home  was  in  charge  of  Capt.  Edwin 
Harlan,  one  of  the  trustees,  for  a  short  time,  until  Harvey  C.  DeMotte, 
who  had  been  president  of  Chaddock  college,  was  secured  as  superintend- 
ent. Mrs.  DeMotte,  who  had  taught  English  and  literature  at  Chaddock, 
assumed  the  duties  of  matron.  They  took  charge  in  June,  1887.  Dr. 
DeMotte  and  his  wife  served  for  six  years  in  their  respective  positions, 
during  which  time  the  plant  was  partly  reconstructed  and  improved. 
Thirty  acres  of  additional  ground  was  secured  at  this  time,  and  the  Home 
then  owned  a  farm  of  96  acres  in  a  rectangular  form.  The  school  was  put 
upon  a  higher  plane,  as  might  have  been  expected  in  the  hands  of  trained 
educators. 

Charles  E.  Bassett  was  the  next  superintendent,  he  having  been  ap- 
pointed by  Gov.  John  P.  Altgeld  after  a  political  landslide  had  changed 
the  state  administration  to  democratic.     The  new  board  of  trustees  ap- 


364  History  of  McLean  County 

pointed  by  Gov.  Altgeld  decided  to  put  in  a  superintendent  of  the  same 
political  faith  as  the  governor,  although  they  admitted  Dr.  DeMotte's 
administration  had  been  satisfactory.  Supt.  Bassett  assumed  charge  in 
August,  1893,  with  his  wife  as  matron.  When  in  1896  the  state  adminis- 
tration had  again  become  republican,  the  Home  saw  another  change,  and 
J.  L.  Magner  succeeded  Capt.  Bassett.  The  administration  of  Supt.  Mag- 
ner  was  brief,  owing  to  complaints  of  conditions  while  he  was  there.  Col. 
Isaac  L.  Clements  of  Carbondale  was  appointed,  with  his  wife  as  matron. 
Col.  Clements  did  not  stay  long,  for  he  received  appointment  to  the  Sol- 
diers' Home  at  Danville.  The  next  superintendent  was  Major  R.  N.  Mc- 
Cauley  of  Olney,  and  Mrs.  McCauley  came  as  matron.  Major  and  Mrs. 
McCauley  remained  in  the  Home  for  fourteen  years,  and  their  adminis- 
tration was  marked  by  many  changes  and  improvements.  The  new  hos- 
pital was  erected,  a  new  and  adequate  sewerage  system  installed,  and  the 
internal  management  of  the  Home  improved  in  many  ways.  The  system 
of  cottages  for  the  better  housing  of  the  girls  was  also  completed  during 
Maj.  McCauley 's  regime,  in  the  year  1904.  Maj.  and  Mrs.  McCauley  con- 
tinued in  charge  of  the  Home  for  fourteen  years,  retiring  in  1913,  and 
being  succeeded  by  Edwain  M.  Van  Petten,  who  had  formerly  been  super- 
intendent of  schools  in  Bloomington.  Mr.  Van  Petten  remained  only  six 
weeks,  for  he  accepted  a  federal  government  appointment  and  gave  up  the 
work  at  the  Home.  His  successor  was  W.  H.  Claggett  of  Lexington,  who 
with  his  wife  took  charge  of  the  Home.  They  remained  for  about  four 
years,  and  the  conditions  at  the  institution  were  very  satisfactory  during 
their  regime.  On  Dec.  15,  1917,  John  W.  Rodgers  of  Bloomington,  a  well 
known  business  man,  was  appointed  to  the  superintendency  at  the  Home. 
He  and  Mrs.  Rodgers  remained  in  charge  of  the  Home  for  four  years. 
There  was  considerable  progress  in  the  modernizing  of  the  buildings  and 
the  addition  of  new  features  that  were  needed  for  the  comfort  and  con- 
venience of  the  children. 

In  April,  1921,  the  appointment  of  Ralph  Spafford  of  Bloomington 
to  the  position  of  managing  officer  of  the  Soldiers'  Orphans'  Home  was 
announced  from  the  office  of  Gov.  Small.  Mr.  Spafford  was  sheriff  of 
McLean  county,  and  inasmuch  as  he  could  not  well  resign  that  position 
on  short  notice,  he  did  not  take  charge  at  the  Home  until  June  6  of  that 
year.  He  is  the  present  managing  officer,  being  assisted  in  the  work  by 
Mrs.  Spafford.     The  Home  now  accepts  not  only  orphan  children  of  sol- 


History  of  McLean  County  365 

diers  and  sailors  of  all  wars,  but  under  an  amendment  to  the  law  made  a 
few  years  ago,  the  children  who  would  otherwise  be  sent  to  county  alms 
houses  in  counties  of  Illinois  are  received  here  to  be  wards  of  the  state 
and  to  receive  a  good  education.  This  has  increased  the  population  of 
the  Home  to  a  great  extent,  there  being  over  500  enrolled  at  the  present 
time. 

From  the  time  of  its  establishment  to  the  present,  the  Soldiers' 
Orphans'  Home  has  housed  and  taken  care  of,  and  educated,  more  than 
5,000  children  who  would  otherwise  have  become  inmates  of  alms  houses 
or  left  to  drift  to  the  whim  of  fate.  Under  recent  provisions  of  the  law, 
many  of  the  children  left  to  the  care  of  this  institution  have  been  placed 
in  private  homes,  where  their  foster  parents  have  legally  adopted  them. 

One  of  the  changes  of  recent  years  is  that  of  supervision.  When  the 
state  departments  were  consolidated  under  Gov.  Lowden,  the  general 
oversight  of  this  and  several  other  charitable  establishments  were  put  in 
the  hands  of  the  director  of  public  welfare,  the  position  being  now  (1923) 
held  by  Judge  C.  H.  Jenkins  of  Sangamon  county.  The  title  of  the  resident 
manager  is  changed  from  that  of  superintendent  to  "managing  officer." 

One  of  the  most  appreciated  additions  to  the  physical  equipment  of 
the  institution  is  that  of  a  fine  modern  gymnasium,  which  was  first  used 
some  three  years  ago.  This  gives  facilities  for  all  kinds  of  athletic  exer- 
cises and  indoor  games,  such  as  are  in  vogue  in  all  modern  schools.  The 
children  of  the  institution  have  competent  leadership  in  this  line,  and 
their  health  is  accordingly  conserved. 


CHAPTER  XXXIII. 


McLEAN  COUNTY  HISTORICAL  SOCIETY. 


ORGANIZED  IN  1892 — FIRST  PRESIDENT — OTHER  OFFICERS — FIRST  VOLUME 
PUBLISHED^SECOND  VOLUME— INCORPORATED  IN  1901— OFFICERS— IN  Mc- 
BARNES  MEMORIAL  BUILDING — HISTORICAL  COLLECTION— MEETINGS. 

One  of  the  institutions  of  which  McLean  County  people  have  reason  to 
be  proud  is  the  McLean  County  Historical  Society,  started  in  a  small  way 
in  1892  and  continued  to  the  present  time  with  ever-growing  influence 
and  prestige. 

On  the  invitation  of  Captain  J.  H.  Burnham  and  E.  M.  Prince,  a  few 
persons  assembled  on  March  12,  1892,  for  the  purpose  of  forming  a  local 
historical  society. 

The  object  of  the  society,  according  to  its  constitution,  was  "To  dis- 
cover, collect  and  preserve  whatever  relates  to  the  natural,  civic,  military, 
literary  and  religious  history  of  Illinois  in  general  and  McLean  county  in 
particular;  to  maintain  a  museum  and  library,  and  to  extend  knowledge 
upon  these  subjects  by  appropriate  meetings  and  publications." 

The  first  president  of  the  society  was  Judge  John  M.  Scott;  J.  B. 
Orendorff  vice  president;  Ezra  M.  Prince,  secretary;  George  P.  Davis, 
treasurer,  and  John  H.  Burnham  chairman  of  the  executive  committee. 
Judge  Scott  held  the  position  of  president  until  his  death,  when  George  P. 
Davis  was  elected  to  succeed  him.  Mr.  Davis  in  turn  held  the  presidency 
until  his  death.  Mr.  Prince  carried  on  the  work  of  the  secretary  of  the 
society  and  custodian  of  the  society's  library  and  museum  until  his  death. 
When  Mr.  Davis  was  promoted  to  the  presidency,  he  relinquished  the 
office  of  treasurer,  and  Mr.  Burnham  was  elected  to  that  place. 

366 


History  of  McLean  County  367 

Judge  Scott,  the  first  president  of  the  society,  was  a  man  eminently 
fitted  for  the  position.  He  was  a  native  of  St.  Clair  county,  Illinois,  and 
came  to  McLean  county  in  1848.  He  had  a  very  wide  knowledge  of  Illinois 
history  from  the  beginning,  and  of  McLean  county  history  from  its  forma- 
tive period.  He  was  the  inspiration  of  the  society  during  his  lifetime  and 
read  many  valuable  papers  at  its  several  meetings,  which  papers  were 
mostly  preserved  in  the  printed  volumes  of  the  society's  proceedings. 
J.  B.  Orendorff,  the  first  vice  president,  lived  in  McLean  county  all  his 
life  and  continued  to  be  a  figure  of  importance  until  his  death. 

The  persons  who  gathered  at  the  initial  meeting  included  the  above 
officers  of  the  society,  and  in  addition  the  following  were  added  to  the 
membership  very  shortly:  Peter  Folsom,  Charles  L.  Capen,  Joseph  B. 
Weaver,  Mrs.  J.  N.  Ward,  John  W.  Cook,  Robert  0.  Graham,  Richard 
Edwards,  Mrs.  W.  W.  Marmon,  William  McCambridge. 

Within  five  years  after  the  formation  of  the  society,  the  directors 
had  gathered  the  material  for  the  publication  of  the  first  volume  of  the 
"Transactions."  This  formal  title  concealed  a  most  laborious  and  com- 
plete work  gotten  out  under  the  direct  charge  of  Capt.  J.  H.  Burnham  and 
Ezra  M.  Prince,  who  were  from  the  first  the  moving  spirits  of  the  society. 
The  volume  was  sub-titled  "War  Record  of  McLean  County."  It  contained 
a  complete  story  of  the  part  which  McLean  county  people  had  borne  in 
the  Black  Hawk  war,  the  Mexican  war  and  the  civil  war.  The  book  con- 
tained a  list  of  the  name  of  all  McLean  county  men  who  served  in  the 
civil  war,  together  with  brief  histories  of  all  the  regiments  which  con- 
tained any  McLean  county  men.  This  information  was  gathered  with 
great  pains  from  the  records  of  the  state  adjutant  general  at  Springfield. 
i  In  the  same  book  was  published  the  official  records  of  the  board  of  super- 
visors so  far  as  it  pertained  to  any  civil  war  actions.  The  lists  of  the 
county  officers  from  the  foundation  of  the  county  up  to  that  time  was 
also  included.  A  collection  of  miscellaneous  papers  on  historical  subjects 
completed  the  volume. 

The  second  volume  of  the  Historical  society's  "Transactions"  was 
published  in  the  year  1899.  The  book  was  called  the  "School  Record  of 
McLean  County,"  and  contained  many  interesting  papers  concerning  the 
development  of  the  educational  interests  of  the  county.  The  third  volume 
contained  a  complete  text  of  all  the  papers  and  historical  data  collected 
at  the  time  of  the  celebration  of  the  fiftieth  anniversary  of  the  great 


368  History  of  McLean  County 

convention  held  in  Bloomington  on  May  29,  1856,  which  was  the  founding 
of  the  republican  party  in  Illinois,  and  at  which  time  Abraham  Lincoln 
delivered  his  celebrated  "lost  speech."  This  little  book  is  the  most  in- 
teresting and  complete  work  extant  concerning  the  historic  convention 
and  the  recollections  of  the  persons  who  attended  it  and  who  were  still 
alive  fifty  years  afterward,  in  1906. 

At  the  meeting  on  March  5,  1898,  the  death  of  Judge  Scott,  the  first 
president  of  the  society,  was  reported  and  suitable  resolutions  enacted. 
George  P.  Davis  was  elected  president.  On  Dec.  5,  1898,  a  great  memorial 
meeting  in  honor  of  John  McLean,  for  whom  the  county  was  named,  was 
held  and  a  tablet  of  bronze  in  his  honor  set  in  the  walls  of  the  court 
house. 

•  In  January,  1901,  the  society  was  incorporated,  and  on  March  14, 
1903,  the  following  officers  elected:  President,  George  P.  Davis;  vice  presi- 
dent, J.  B.  Orendorff;  secretary,  E.  M.  Prince;  executive  committee, 
Messrs.  Burnham,  Prince  and  Davis,  Mrs.  W.  W.  Marmon  and  Mrs.  J.  N. 
Ward.  The  roster  of  officers  remained  practically  unchanged  until  the 
death  of  the  secretary,  E.  M.  Prince,  which  occurred  August  27,  1908.  At 
the  following  annual  meeting,  in  March,  1909,  the  list  of  officers  elected 
were :  President,  George  P.  Davis ;  W.  J.  Rhodes,  vice  president ;  secretary, 
Dwight  E.  Frink;  treasurer,  J.  H.  Burnham;  trustees,  Lafayette  Funk, 
Reuben  M.  Benjamin,  Simeon  H.  West,  Mrs.  W.  J.  Rhodes,  Henry 
McCormick. 

Milo  Custer  was  appointed  custodian  of  the  museum  to  succeed  Mr. 
Prince,  on  Aug.  2,  1909.  At  first  his  salary  was  raised  by  private  sub- 
scriptions, but  in  March,  1910,  the  board  of  supervisors  appropriated  $480 
per  year  for  the  custodian's  salary.  The  same  list  of  officers  served  until 
1914,  when  George  P.  Davis  was  elected  president;  A.  V.  Pierson  vice 
president ;  D.  E.  Fink,  secretary,  and  J.  H.  Burnham,  treasurer. 

In  May,  1916,  a  rule  was  passed  that  the  relics  for  the  museum  should 
be  confined  to  those  specified  in  the  constitution,  only  such  as  related  in 
some  way  to  McLean  County  history.  No  oriental  or  non-American  relics 
are  to  be  received. 

On  Jan.  10,  1917,  resolutions  were  passed  on  the  death  of  George  P. 
Davis,  president  of  the  society.  Only  ten  days  later,  Jan.  20,  the  society 
mourned  the  death  of  Capt.  J.  H.  Burnham,  one  of  the  charter  members 


Of  THE 


History  of  McLean  County  369 

and  a  main  promoter.     Similar  memorial  resolutions  on  Capt.  Burnham 
were  adopted  by  the  society  on  Jan.  29. 

On  Feb.  1,  1917,  W.  B.  Carlock  was  elected  treasurer,  and  on  March 
1  of  that  year  Emanuel  Rhoads  was  chosen  custodian  to  succeed  Milo 
Custer.  Henry  McCormick,  who  had  been  vice  president,  was  chosen 
president  to  succeed  Mr.  Davis.  Prof.  McCormick  served  as  president 
until  his  death  on  June  17,  1918.  On  the  death  of  Prof.  McCormick,  Hon. 
Thomas  C.  Kerrick  was  chosen  president,  and  he  serves  till  the  present 
time. 

Early  in  1919,  Dwight  E.  Frink,  the  secretary,  died,  and  E.  Rhoads 
was  selected  to  succeed  to  that  position.  Mr.  Rhoads  still  occupies  the 
secretaryship. 

In  November,  1921,  appears  the  first  record  of  action  by  the  Histor- 
ical society  looking  to  a  change  of  location  to  the  new  McBarnes  Memorial 
building  when  it  should  be  completed.  This  society  had  a  part  in  the 
laying  of  the  corner  stone  on  May  27,  1922.  T.  C.  Kerrick  was  appointed 
to  represent  the  Historical  society  on  the  board  of  management  of  the 
McBarnes  building.  The  first  meeting  of  the  directors  of  the  society  was 
held  in  the  new  McBarnes  building  on  Jan.  27,  1923.  The  present  officers 
of  the  society  are:  Thomas  C.  Kerrick,  president;  Thomas  Kennedy,  first 
vice  president;  Scott  Price,  second  vice  president;  Mrs.  John  McBarnes, 
third  vice  president,  taking  the  place  of  F.  H.  Newcomb,  who  resigned ; 
W.  B.  Carlock,  treasurer;  Mr.  Kerrick,  N.  W.  Brandicon,  Sue  A.  Sanders, 
Mary  L.  P.  Evans,  W.  B.  Carlock,  David  Davis  and  John  G.  Welch,  direct- 
ors. Emanuel  Rhoades  was  reappointed  secretary  and  custodian  of  the 
society's  museum.  At  the  last  annual  meeting,  Mrs.  McBarnes  was  made 
a  life  member  of  the  society. 

From  the  very  first,  the  promoters  of  the  society  desired  to  assemble 
a  museum  of  the  articles,  pictures  and  manuscripts  which  should  preserve 
in  a  visible  form  the  early  history  and  progress  of  the  county.  The  board 
of  supervisors  set  aside  a  room  in  the  court  house  which  was  built  in 
1901  for  the  special  use  of  the  Historical  society.  Here  was  gathered  a 
wonderful  assemblage  of  relics  of  pioneer  times,  of  the  mementoes  of  all 
wars,  pictures  of  the  earlier  settlers  and  their  homes,  and  a  thousand  and 
one  other  articles  such  as  a  local  historical  museum  should  contain.  E.  M. 
Prince  was  appointed  as  custodian  of  the  museum,  and  he  served  until  his 

(22) 


370  History  of  McLean  County 

death,  at  a  mere  nominal  salary,  for  the  society  had  no  funds  except 
private  donations  and  a  small  appropriation  each  year  from  the  board 
of  supervisors.  The  room  in  the  court  house  soon  became  too  small  and 
too  cramped  for  accommodation  and  classification  of  the  increasing 
assemblage  of  relics,  and  for  many  years  the  chief  promoters  of  the 
society  had  dreamed  of  a  larger  and  fire  proof  building  for  its  use. 

Such  a  dream  came  true  in  a  measure  at  least  along  in  the  year  1921- 
22,  when  the  project  for  the  McBarnes  Memorial  building,  as  explained 
elsewhere,  grew  into  an  assured  fact.  In  planning  this  building,  the 
majority  of  the  space  on  the  first  floor  was  set  apart  for  the  use  of  the 
County  Historical  society.  When  the  building  was  completed,  the  society 
moved  its  vast  museum  into  this  room,  which  even  from  the  first  proved 
to  be  no  more  room  than  was  needed,  if  enough.  Emanuel  Rhoads  had 
succeeded  to  the  office  of  custodian,  after  the  death  of  Mr.  Prince  and  a 
period  when  Milo  Custer  had  occupied  the  position.  Mr.  Rhoads  set  about 
to  arrange  the  collection  of  relics  in  a  systematic  manner  in  the  new 
quarters,  and  he  succeeded  admirably,  with  the  advice  and  counsel  of  the 
officers  of  the  society.  The  museum  is  now  the  best  and  most  complete 
to  be  found  in  Illinois  outside  of  the  state  museum  at  Springfield.  Indeed, 
there  is  probably  no  better  in  the  middle  west. 

The  Historical  society  holds  quarterly  meetings,  and  its  many  valu- 
able and  comprehensive  papers  have  served  to  preserve  in  permanent  form 
the  material  of  local  history  which  would  otherwise  have  been  irreparably 
lost.  The  officers  of  the  society  have,  in  mind  the  publication  of  another 
volume  of  "Transactions"  at  some  time  in  the  near  future,  which  will 
make  available  some  of  the  material  which  has  been  prepared  since  the 
second  volume  appeared.  The  Historical  society  museum  is  open  to  the 
public  every  day,  and  is  visited  by  hundreds  of  people  every  year. 


CHAPTER  XXXIV. 


MISCELLANEOUS. 


McBARNES    MEMORIAL    BUILDING — COURT    HOUSES — COUNTY    JAILS— MOTOR    CAR 
AND  ERA  OF  PAVED  ROADS. 

McBarnes  Memorial  Building.— One  of  the  outgrows  of  the  world 
war  as  it  affected  McLean  county  was  to  bring  to  the  surface  the  munifi- 
cent generosity  of  one  of  the  county's  well  known  wedded  couples,  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  John  McBarnes  of  near  Holder,  who  were  the  instruments  by 
which  the  soldiers  and  sailors  of  all  the  wars  are  to  perpetually  enjoy  a 
great  building  erected  for  their  especial  benefit.  It  stands  at  the  south- 
east corner  of  Grove  and  East  street,  the  same  corner  on  which  stood  for 
many  years  the  home  of  Dr.  Stipp  and  earlier  of  James  Allin,  the  building 
first  used  as  a  court  house  or  county  building.  The  Stipp  house  had  been 
torn  down  several  years  before  the  world  war,  and  the  lot  was  vacant 
when  the  proposition  of  erecting  there  a  memorial  building  was  first 
broached. 

Housed  within  the  friendly  walls  of  this  handsome  McBarnes  Memor- 
ial edifice  are  the  patriotic  organizations  of  the  city  and  county,  who  for 
years  to  come  will  enjoy  the  privileges  that  have  been  made  possible  by 
the  donor  of  the  building  and  the  taxpayers  of  the  county,  who,  through 
the  efforts  of  the  Board  of  Supervisors,  provided  the  splendid  site  upon 
which  the  stately  structure  now  stands. 

In  the  fall  of  1920  the  people  of  McLean  county  voted  to  erect  a  suit- 
able building  as  a  memorial  to  those  of  her  sons  who  had  made  the  great 
sacrifice.  However,  it  was  found  that  no  provision  was  made  for  further 
taxing  powers  to  provide  funds  sufficient  to  warrant  such  an  undertaking 

371 


372  History  of  McLean  County 

and  this  necessitated  the  abandonment  of  the  plan.  Again  in  June,  1921, 
the  proposition  of  a  bond  issue  and  additional  taxing  power  was  sub- 
mitted to  a  vote  of  the  people,  and  upon  this  occasion  the  issue  was 
defeated  by  a  decisive  vote. 

During  the  time  that  intervened  between  the  elections,  the  Board 
of  bupervisors  had  contracted  for  a  location  for  the  building,  and  even 
though  the  bond  issue  was  defeated,  they  were  under  contract  for  the 
purchase  of  the  Stipp  lot,  bounded  by  Grove,  Albert,  Olive  and  East  streets. 

The  site  being  only  six  blocks  from  the  public  square  was  considered 
ideal  for  such  a  building,  not  only  because  of  its  location  but  by  reason  of 
the  historical  lore  which  this  spot  holds.  It  was  upon  this  site  that  once 
stood  the  McLean  county  court  house  where  the  immortal  Abraham  Lin- 
coln practised  law  and  made  many  of  the  great  addresses  which  have  come 
down  through  the  years  as  an  inspiration  to  succeeding  generations. 

It  was  just  at  a  time  that  the  soldiers  of  the  county  and  the  public 
spirited  citizens  who  had  favored  the  erection  of  a  building,  were  about 
to  give  up  in  despair,  that  John  McBarnes  appeared  before  the  Board  of 
Supervisors  and  made  a  proposition  to  donate  dollar  for  dollar  to  a  fund 
for  the  erection  of  a  Memorial  building.  The  board  found  that  they  were 
without  funds  and  could  not  accept  the  offer  of  Mr.  McBarnes.  Mr. 
McBarnes  then  presented  another  proposition  in  which  he  agreed  to  pay 
the  sum  of  $125,000  for  the  erection  of  the  building,  providing  the  super- 
visors would  provide  a  suitable  site.  The  county  board  provided  the  Stipp 
lot  and  the  contract  for  the  erection  of  the  building  was  signed  on  Sept. 
24,  1921. 

On  Oct.  26,  1921,  Mr.  McBarnes  passed  to  his  reward,  without  living 
to  see  the  ground  broken  for  this  building  which  was  commenced  April 
1,  1922.  On  May  27,  1922  the  corner  stone  was  laid  and  the  structure  was 
dedicated  on  April  30,  1923. 

The  building  is  three  stories  in  height,  one  hundred  feet  wide  and 
eighty  feet  deep.  This  leaves  on  the  rear  of  the  lot,  141  feet  upon  which 
is  to  be  erected  a  Memorial  auditorium,  and  for  which  funds  are  to  be 
raised  by  the  local  organization  within  a  period  of  five  years.  The  struc- 
ture is  of  the  monumental  type,  of  grey  pressed  brick,  trimmed  with 
Bedford  stont. 

The  building  is  managed  and  controlled  by  a  board  of  management 
composed  of  one  member  of  each  organization  for  each  one  hundred  of 


History  of  McLean  County 


373 


374  History  of  McLean  County 

its  membership,  one  member  from  the  board  of  supervisors  and  one  mem- 
ber of  the  McLean  County  Historical  society. 

The  building  committee  spent  $132,000  for  the  actual  construction  of 
the  building.  The  furnishings  as  furnished  by  the  county,  cost  $17,000. 
Upon  entering  the  first  floor  of  the  building,  one  first  comes  into  the  spa- 
cious lobby,  which  is  furnished  with  a  library  table,  two  formal  high  back 
chairs,  and  on  the  west  wall  of  the  lobby  are  large  pictures  of  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  John  McBarnes.  On  the  east  wall  is  the  huge  bronze  tablet  contain- 
ing the  names  of  all  of  the  McLean  county  soldiers,  sailors  and  marines 
who  lost  their  lives  in  the  World  war. 

Immediately  to  the  left  of  the  lobby  is  the  room  occupied  by  the  Grand 
Army  of  the  Republic.  This  contains  a  large  rug,  leather  furniture,  card 
tables,  chairs,  and  other  equipment  necessary  for  the  comfort  of  the 
veterans. 

On  the  right  of  the  lobby  are  a  suite  of  rooms  occupied  by  the  state 
department  of  the  American  Legion,  consisting  of  private  offices  for  the 
commander  and  adjutant  and  for  finance  department  and  a  spacious  work 
room  for  the  clerical  force.  There  is  a  large  vault  for  the  records  and  a 
stock  room  for  supplies. 

At  the  end  of  the  lobby  will  be  found  the  McLean  County  Historical 
society,  which  has  one  of  the  largest  and  finest  collections  of  relics,  curios, 
and  historical  data  of  varied  character  of  any  organization  in  Illinois 
with  the  exception  of  the  State  Historical  society. 

In  quarters  in  the  southeast  corner  of  the  building  are  located  the 
colored  soldiers,  whose  quarters  are  furnished  in  keeping  with  the  other 
appointments  of  the  building. 

Across  the  front  of  the  second  floor  is  a  room  22  by  50  feet  in  dimen- 
sions which  is  used  as  a  lounge  room.  At  the  east  end  of  this  room  is  a 
brick  fire  place  which  adds  to  the  homelike  atmosphere  of  the  place.  A 
handsome  rug  18  by  46  covers  the  floor;  there  is  a  library  table  in  the 
center;  there  are  nine  pieces  of  overstuffed  velour  furniture,  eight  chairs 
upholstered  in  tapestry  and  two  mahogany  writing  desks  with  chairs  to 
match.  The  three  large  windows  in  the  front  are  hung  with  cretonne 
drapes. 

To  the  east  of  the  lounging  room  is  the  board  of  manager's  office, 
coat  rooms  and  toilet.  To  the  west  of  the  lounging  room  are  the  office 
rooms  occupied  by  the  local  post  of  soldiers  organizations. 


History  of  McLean  County  375 

In  the  center  of  the  second  floor  is  the  music  room.  There  are  six 
French  plate  glass  doors  leading  from  this  to  adjoining  rooms.  A  rug  18 
by  32  feet  covers  the  floor.  The  furnishings  consist  of  two  leather  daven- 
ports, library  table  and  twelve  fumed  oak  chairs.  This  is  also  used  as 
a  reading  room. 

At  the  rear  of  the  building  on  the  second  floor,  will  be  found  the  bil- 
liard and  recreation  room.  This  is  equipped  with  two  billiard  and  four 
pool  tables  and  card  tables. 

To  the  east  of  the  recreation  room  is  the  canteen  which  is  equipped 
with  an  eight  foot  soda  fountain,  small  steam  table  from  which  sand- 
wiches and  coffee  are  served.     There  is  also  a  cigar  and  candy  stand* 

Extending  from  front  to  rear  in  the  center  of  the  third  floor,  is  the 
assembly  room  which  is  51  by  78  feet  in  dimensions.  There  are  three 
large  windows  across  the  front  and  false  or  mirrowed  windows  in  the 
rear.  There  are  three  sets  of  French  doors  on  either  side.  The  walls  are 
tinted  grey,  trimmed  with  mahogany.  The  furniture  consists  of  one 
hundred  mahogany  chairs  and  mahogany  pedestals. 

On  the  northwest  corner  of  the  third  floor  will  be  found  the  ladies' 
parlor.  It  is  covered  with  a  large  taupe  rug  and  his  thirty-two  pieces 
of  frosted  wicker  furniture.  Immediately  south  of  this  room  is  the 
ladies'  retiring  room. 

In  the  southwest  corner  is  located  the  store  room,  where  four  hun- 
dred feet  of  collapsible  banquet  table  and  three  hundred  folding  chairs 
are  housed  when  not  in  use. 

In  the  northeast  corner  is  the  men's  smoking  room  which  has  two 
9  by  12  rugs  and  twelve  pieces  of  wicker  furniture. 

In  the  southeast  corner  is  the  kitchen.  This  is  thoroughly  equipped 
to  banquet  four  hundred  people.  There  is  a  large  supply  of  dishes,  silver- 
ware, etc.,  a  large  double  gas  range,  battery  of  coffee  urns,  work  tables 
and  other  necessary  equipment. 

The  structure,  both  inside  and  out,  is  of  ornate  design,  is  complete 
in  all  its  appointments  and  is  withal,  a  building  of  which  the  soldiers  and 
citizens  of  the  city  and  county  must  have  just  cause  to  be  proud. 

Willis  S.  Harwood  of  Bloomington  was  the  chairman  of  the  building 
committee  during  the  erection  of  the  McBarnes  building.  Ben  S.  Rhodes 
was  vice  chairman;  Harris  K.  Hoblit,  treasurer;  Oscar  Hoose,  secretary; 
John  Bozarth,  Charles  P.  Kane,  Walter  Arbogast  and  T.  F.  Harwood  were 


376  History  of  McLean  County 

the  other  members  of  the  committee.  Mr.  McBarnes  chose  some  of  the 
members  of  the  committee  and  the  American  Legion  selected  the  others. 
The  ones  chosen  by  Mr.  McBarnes  were  W.  S.  Harwood,  Messrs.  Hoblit, 
Bozarth  and  Arbogast.  The  ones  selected  by  the  Legion  were  Secretary 
Rhodes,  Oscar  Roose,  Charles  P.  Kane  and  T.  F.  Harwood. 

Court  Houses. — In  the  course  of  its  history,  McLean  County  has 
built  four  court  houses.  The  first  building  used  as  a  court  house  was 
really  the  residence  of  James  Allin,  situated  on  the  block  bounded  by 
East,  Grove,  Albert  and  Olive  streets.  Here  the  first  term  of  court  was 
held  in  September,  1831,  but  it  did  not  do  any  business  except  receive  the 
report  of  the  grand  jury,  which  had  held  its  session  out  of  doors  under 
a  tree.  James  Allin  was  clerk,  Cheney  Thomas  sheriff  and  Thomas 
Orendorff  bailiff.  In  the  year  1832,  September,  the  first  jury  trial  was 
held  at  the  same  place,  the  case  of  Steer  vs.  Dawson,  growing  out  of  the 
defendant  taking  up  cattle  without  advertising.  The  first  divorce  case 
was  Neville  vs.  Neville,  the  wife  being  granted  a  divorce.  An  important 
case  of  that  time  was  that  of  the  Illinois  Central  Railroad  Company 
against  the  county  of  McLean,  involving  the  power  of  the  legislature  to 
exempt  the  road  from  taxation  on  its  paying  a  certain  sum.  Abraham 
Lincoln  was  the  company's  attorney,  and  he  afterward  sued  for  his  fee 
of  $5,000,  which  the  jury  allowed  him. 

All  four  of  the  court  houses  were  built  on  the  square  bounded  by 
Jefferson,  Main,  Washington  and  Center  streets.  The  first  was  a  one- 
story  frame  building  18x30  feet,  divided  into  three  rooms.  It  was  built 
in  1832  by  Asahel  Gridley  for  $339.25.  It  was  used  also  for  a  school 
house  and  public  meetings. 

The  second  court  house  was  erected  in  1836  and  used  for  30  years. 
Leander  Munsell  was  the  builder,  and  the  cost  was  $6,375.  It  was  brick, 
two  stories  high,  40x45  feet,  contained  five  rooms.  It  had  doors  on  alf 
four  sides.  It  was  used  for  many  political  meetings,  but  the  commis- 
sioners refused  its  use  to  the  Abolitionists,  as  they  were  considered 
enemies  of  the  country.  One  of  the  stirring  scenes  in  this  building  was 
on  May  25,  1862,  when  within  a  short  time  a  military  company  of  248  men 
was  recruited  for  emergency  guard  duty  at  Springfield  to  replace  other 
companies  who  had  been  sent  to  the  front.  Many  noted  judges  presided 
in  this  building,  including  Samuel  H.  Treat,  T.   Lyle  Dickey,  Oliver  L. 


History  of  McLean  County  377 

Davis,  Charles  Emmerson,  David  Davis,  John  M.  Scott.  Among  the  noted 
lawyers  were  Abraham  Lincoln,  John  T.  Stuart,  Stephen  T.  Logan,  James 
Shields,  James  A.  MacDougall,  Edward  D.  Baker,  Leonard  Swett  and 
Robert  G.  Ingersoll. 

The  third  court  house  was  erected  in  1868  and  was  used  until  it  was 
ruined  in  the  big  fire  of  1900.  A.  B.  Ives,  as  chairman  of  the  board  of 
supervisors,  cast  the  deciding  vote  on  the  question  of  building  a  new 
court  house.  It  was  11  years  later,  in  1879,  that  the  building  commis- 
sion reported  the  building  completed  at  a  cost  of  $404,727.51.  The  exter- 
ior was  of  Joliet  limestone,  and  the  structure  was  large  and  beautiful 
and  convenient.  In  the  fire  of  June  19,  1900,  the  wooden  window  frames 
and  other  parts  caught  fire  and  the  heat  ruined  the  stone  facings,  so 
that  the  board  voted  to  tear  down  the  building  and  erect  another. 

The  fourth  and  present  court  house  was  built  of  Bedford  sandstone 
with  interior  finishings  of  marble  and  scagliola.  It  is  conveniently  ar- 
ranged, and  contains  besides  the  offices  for  the  county  officials  large  rooms 
where  the  Historical  Society  and  the  old  soldiers  had  headquarters  until 
the  McBarnes  Memorial  building  was  erected  in  1922,  when  these  latter 
organizations  were  removed  to  that  structure.  The  total  cost  of  this 
building  was  $474,000,  which  was  paid  off  in  five  years  after  the  building 
bonds  were  issued.  During  the  building  of  this  court  house,  all  county 
business  was  done  in  old  Turner  Hall  on  South  Main  street. 

County  Jails. — The  first  county  jail  was  erected  in  1831  on  the  north 
line  of  the  court  house  yard,  16x16  feet  in  dimensions,  and  costing  $331. 
It  was  built  of  hewed  logs  and  contained  one  room  above  the  other.  One 
of  the  rooms  of  the  jail  was  a  dungeon.  On  July  4,  1836,  the  first  jail 
delivery  of  the  county  occurred,  when  one  Dick  Morrow,  deliberately 
crawled  out  of  the  window  between  the  bars  and  began  looking  for  the 
sheriff  to  help  him  celebrate  the  4th.  In  1837  the  jail  was  condemned  as 
unfit  for  use,  and  on  July  6,  1836,  the  board  contracted  with  Dr.  Isaac 
Baker  for  a  new  jail.  The  second  jail  was  built  at  the  corner  of  Market 
and  Center  streets.  It  was  of  brick  exterior  and  with  hewed  logs  on 
the  inside  below.  The  top  floor  was  finished  like  a  dwelling  house.  This 
building  cost  $1,500  and  was  used  as  a  jail  until  1849.  It  was  torn  down 
in  1857.  The  third  jail  was  built  at  the  northwest  corner  of  the  court 
house  square  in  1848,  the  contract  going  to  William  F.  Flagg  for  $2,216. 


378  History  of  McLean  County 

It  was  a  two-story  brick  structure  20x41.  There  were  two  compartments 
in  the  jail  proper,  one  for  persons  arrested  for  crime,  the  other  for  those 
imprisoned  for  debt.  Outside  the  building  was  a  stockade,  with  toilet 
accommodations,  etc.  An  ell  built  on  the  main  part  was  for  residence 
purposes  for  the  jailer. 

The  fourth  jail  was  built  at  the  corner  of  Center  and  Market,  on  the 
site  where  the  second  jail  was  torn  down.  It  was  erected  in  1857  and  cost 
$13,150.  It  was  two  stories  in  height  and  contained  the  sheriff's  residence 
in  addition  to  the  jail.  This  building,  meant  to  house  ten  prisoners,  was 
considered  a  model  when  it  was  erected.  It  was  continued  in  use  for  20 
years,  during  which  the  county  grew  from  22,000  to  nearly  60,000  popu- 
lation, and  of  course  the  jail  was  outgrown.  Sometimes  there  were  40 
prisoners  in  the  spacer  meant  for  ten.  George  Perrin  Davis,  chairman  of 
the  committee  on  public  buildings,  made  a  report  to  the  board  of  super- 
visors in  1879  condemning  the  building  for  further  use  as  a  jail.  There 
had  been  several  escapes  of  prisoners  owing  to  the  weakened  condition  of 
the  iron  gratings  of  the  cells.  The  matter  hung  fire  before  the  board 
until  March  8,  1881,  when  the  contract  for  the  fifth  and  last  jail  was  let. 

The  jail  at  the  southwest  corner  of  Center  and  Market  streets  was 
the  scene  of  the  only  lynching  in  the  history  of  McLean  County.  One 
night  in  October,  1831,  Frank  Pierce,  who  had  been  put  in  jail  on  a  charge 
of  stealing  a  horse  from  Guy  Carlton,  tried  to  break  out.  In  so  doing,  he 
secured  a  gun  and  shot  the  jailer,  Teddy  Franks,  who  died  shortly  after- 
ward. A  crowd  gathered  at  the  jail,  and  in  spite  of  the  efforts  of  Sheriff 
Joseph  Ator,  to  prevent  their  getting  the  prisoner,  they  dragged  him  from 
the  jail  and  hanged  him  to  a  tree  in  a  vacant  lot  at  the  northeast  corner 
of  the  street.    Afterward  the  crowd  quietly  dispersed. 

The  present  jail  stands  on  a  lot  at  the  corner  of  Madison  and  Monroe 
Streets;  is  built  of  brick  and  limestone  trimmings,  and  contains  the 
jail  proper  and  the  sheriff's  residence.  It  cost  $72,000  when  built,  and  has 
been  several  times  remodeled.  The  residence  is  separated  from  the  jail 
proper,  so  that  the  sheriff's  family  is  not  required  to  mingle  with  prison- 
ers except  when  necessary  for  feeding  them.  In  addition  to  the  usual 
cell  tiers,  there  are  compartments  for  boys,  for  women,  and  separate 
rooms  for  the  temporary  detention  of  insane  persons.  It  is  equipped 
with  suitable  sanitary  arrangements.  Of  late  years  many  of  the  federal 
prisoners  sentenced  to  confinement  by  judges  at  Peoria,  Springfield  and 


History  of  McLean  County  379 

other  federal  courts,  have  been  sent  to  McLean  County  to  serve  their 
sentences,  owing  to  the  fact  that  the  jail  in  this  county  is  superior  to 
those  of  many  other  counties. 

Motor  Car  and  Era  of  Paved  Roads. — One  of  the  chief  factors  in  the 
retardation  of  the  development  of  McLean  County  was  the  fact  that  while 
our  soil  was  excellent  for  raising  crops,  it  was  abominable  in  its  natural 
state  for  the  building  of  a  road  for  constant  travel.  The  nature  of  the 
soil  was  and  is  such  that  when  it  is  soaked  with  water  it  is  of  the  con- 
sistency of  putty  or  worse.  This  natural  condition  of  the  soil,  added  to 
the  fact  that  in  the  early  years  it  was  overgrown  with  long  prairie  grass, 
and  its  natural  surface  crossed  by  sloughs  and  shallow  streams,  made  the 
general  body  of  the  land  in  McLean  County  a  terror  to  travelers.  Before 
the  land  begun  to  be  drained  or  improved,  it  was  for  perhaps  six  months 
of  the  year  so  soft  and  yielding  in  its  consistency  that  it  would  not  bear 
up  a  wagon  and  team,  and  hardly  hold  a  horse  and  rider. 

Indian  trails  formed  the  nearest  approach  to  what  we  would  now  call 
a  road  in  McLean  County.  The  earliest  immigrants  who  settled  here, 
soon  found  the  shortest  cut  from  grove  to  grove,  and  made  a  sort  of  rude 
kind  of  road  along  these  routes.  The  Legislature  wrestled  with  road  ques- 
tions from  its  earliest  years.  It  laid  out  many  "state  roads"  on  paper, 
but  these  in  fact  were  about  as  impassable  as  the  uncharted  trails  of  the 
Indians.  Not  many  years  after  the  first  settlers  came  to  McLean  County, 
there  was  what  was  called  the  Bloomington  and  Springfield  state  road, 
and  there  was  a  general  notion  of  a  main  traveled  road  from  Peoria  east, 
which  crossed  this  county.  The  Galena  lead  mines  were  one  of  the  prin- 
cipal industries  of  Illinois  in  the  '30's,  and  roads  leading  to  them  were 
laid  out  from  many  points  in  the  state.  When  stock  dealers  or  others 
wanted  to  drive  to  Chicago,  they  just  cut  straight  across  the  prairie  as 
best  they  could  find  their  way.  There  was  little  semblance  of  a  road  to 
guide  them. 

The  streams  were  of  course  unbridged  for  many  years.  The  people 
had  no  money  to  build  bridges,  and  no  engineering  skill  to  construct  them 
even  if  they  had  had  the  money.  Sometimes  farmers  of  a  neighborhood 
would  get  together  and  build  some  sort  of  a  rough  bridge  that  would  sup- 
port their  wagons  in  crossing  the  Mackinaw  River,  Kickapoo  Creek,  Money 
Creek  or  Salt  Creek.     It  was  not  until  after  township  organization  had 


380  History  of  McLean  County 

been  adopted  in  1858  that  the  question  of  bridges  received  any  co-opera- 
tive attention.  The  townships  one  after  another  took  up  the  subject  and 
voted  funds  to  build  the  most  necessary  bridges. 

By  the  time  of  the  Civil  War  something  of  an  attempt  to  make  main 
roads  north  and  south  and  east  and  west  had  been  accomplished.  They 
might  be  traveled  with  some  hope  of  progress  in  the  summer  and  fall 
when  the  weather  was  dry,  but  for  the  winter  and  spring  months  the 
people  were  practically  marooned  in  their  own  homes,  except  as  dire  neces- 
sity compelled  them  to  undertake  the  hazards  and  discomforts  of  travel  by 
horseback  or  team. 

The  "good  roads"  question  has  therefore  been  a  constant  issue  with 
the  people  of  McLean  County,  from  the  earliest  times  until  the  very 
recent  past,  when  a  program  of  state  and  county  aid  in  building  roads  bids 
fair  to  at  last  "pull  Illinois  out  of  the  mud." 

Many  a  time  has  the  question  of  road  building  become  a  live  politi- 
cal issue  for  the  past  forty  years.  In  the  earlier  days  of  agitation  for  the 
improvement  of  the  highways,  it  required  a  brave  man  to  suggest  that 
an  artificial  hard  surface  could  be  applied  to  an  Illinois  mud  road  and 
make  a  construction  that  would  stand  up  under  the  effect  of  rains,  at  a 
cost  that  would  not  actually  bankrupt  the  whole  population. 

One  of  the  "good  roads"  conventions  when  the  agitation  became 
acute  was  that  held  in  Bloomington  on  Sept.  19,  1899.  This  was  a  dis- 
trict affair,  the  delegates  coming  from  McLean  and  many  surrounding 
counties.  Capt.  S.  Noble  King  was  the  presiding  officer.  After  two  days 
of  discussions,  the  meeting  adopted  resolutions  to  the  effect  that  paved 
roads  were  impracticable,  but  that  the  delegates  would  all  go  home  and 
boost  for  the  best  dirt  roads  that  they  could  make. 

This  agitation  had  its  effect  nevertheless,  and  within  a  few  years 
afterward,  the  people  of  Bloomington  voted  a  tax  of  something  like  $20,000 
to  construct  two  strips  of  "hard  road"  west  and  south  of  the  city  limits 
of  Bloomington.  This  road  was  built  under  the  general  direction  of  James 
G.  Melluish  and  it  stands  today,  although  nearly  worn  out. 

Some  of  the  outside  townships,  notably  Lexington,  many  years  ago 
took  practical  steps  toward  improving  the  roads  outside  of  Lexington  for 
several  miles  in  each  direction.  The  people  of  that  township  were  fortu- 
nate in  having  a  supply  of  gravel  along  the  Mackinaw  River  bottoms,  and 
the  township  road  commissioners  supervised  the  distribution  of  this  ma- 


History  of  McLean  County  381 

terial  along  the  roads.  The  consequence  was  that  Lexington  had  grav- 
eled roads  that  were  several  hundred  per  cent  better  than  the  average 
dirt  road,  for  many  years  prior  to  the  general  movement  for  improved 
highways  got  under  way. 

But  to  return  to  the  subject  of  paved  roadways:  Some  fifteen  years 
ago  a  number  of  enterprising  farmers  and  other  people  down  the  road 
toward  Shirley,  assisted  by  citizens  of  Bloomington,  raised  a  fund  for 
putting  a  hard  surface  on  the  Bloomington-Shirley  road.  The  Funks  fur- 
nished a  large  proportion  of  the  money  for  this  interesting  experiment, 
which  was  the  most  pretentious  road  building  enterprises  that  had  been 
undertaken  in  McLean  County  up  to  that  time.  The  road  was  built  of 
a  composition  of  asphalt  and  other  ingredients  put  down  on  a  foundation 
of  crushed  rock.  It  stood  up  under  the  traffic  conditions  for  several 
years,  until  the  multiplication  of  automobiles  made  it  impossible  to  hold 
up  longer,  and  it  had  about  gone  to  pieces  prior  to  the  project  by  which 
the  State  of  Illinois  built  the  paved  road  from  Bloomington  to  Shirley 
along  what  was  known  as  the  Illini  boulevard  road. 

The  factor  above  all  others  which  contributed  to  good  roads  senti- 
ment in  McLean  County,  as  elsewhere,  was  the  advent  of  the  motor  car, 
or  as  it  was  first  known  as  the  "horseless  wagon."  It  is  not  the  province 
of  this  history  to  trace  the  origin  of  the  invention  of  the  automobile,  but 
when  this  form  of  locomotion  became  a  practical  affair  in  the  United 
States,  McLean  County  took  up  the  new  vehicle  and  adopted  it  for  gen- 
eral use  as  fast  as  the  people  understood  it.  The  first  motor  vehicle 
brought  to  Bloomington  was  a  steam-engine  propelled  machine  owned  by 
E.  E.  Ellsworth,  an  engineer  on  the  Alton  road.  It  was  viewed  as  a  great 
curiosity  at  first,  but  gradually  other  machines  came  to  the  city  and 
county,  and  the  era  of  motor  travel  had  dawned  for  this  section. 

Motor  cars  demanded  a  better  and  more  constant  road  that  they 
could  travel.  At  first  the  owners  of  motor  cars  put  them  up  for  the  win- 
ter as  soon  as  the  roads  got  muddy  in  the  autumn.  But  this  was  an  uneco- 
nomical use  of  the  expensive  machines,  for  from  one-third  to  one-half  of 
their  time  was  wasted.  Therefore  people  said  that  the  all-round  year 
round  road  must  be  made.  Therefore  under  the  administration  of  Gov- 
ernor Lowden  the  Legislature  passed  a  law  granting  permission  for  the 
state  to  embark  upon  a  stupendous  road  building  program.  A  bond  issue 
of  860,000,000  was  put  up  to  the  people,  and  passed  by  a  very  large  vote. 


382  History  of  McLean  County 

The  bonds  were  to  be  paid  by  license  fees  paid  by  the  automobile  owners. 
There  was  very  general  support  of  the  proposal  by  newspapers  of  all 
kinds,  and  by  organizations  of  every  sort.  The  result  was  that  out  of 
661,815  votes  cast  on  the  proposition,  507,419  were  favorable  to  it.  The 
vote  was  taken  in  November,  1918,  and  at  once  thereafter  steps  were 
taken  to  bring  before  the  Supreme  Court  the  question  of  the  constitution- 
ality of  the  law.  The  court  sustained  the  law,  and  plans  were  made  to 
carry  out  its  provisions. 

Illinois  meantime  had  secured  $3,300,000  from  the  government  allot- 
ment as  its  share  of  the  $75,000,000  appropriated  to  aid  states  in  build- 
ing roads. 

McLean  County,  however,  had  built  some  paved  road  prior  to  the  let- 
ting of  the  first  state  contract  for  roads  in  this  county.  A  strip  of  about 
three  miles  in  length  was  constructed  east  of  the  city  limits  of  Blooming- 
ton  on  Empire  Street,  and  later  another  short  strip  to  connect  with  it  on 
the  east  end. 

The  state  road  building  program  got  started  so  far  as  McLean  County 
is  concerned,  in  the  years  of  1922  and  '23.  The  hard  road  paralleling  the 
Alton  railroad  extends  clear  across  the  county,  this  being  part  of  the 
great  Chicago-St.  Louis  paved  roadway  to  be  known  as  the  Illini  boule- 
vard. Another  road,  to  extend  eventually  from  Peoria  east  to  Paxton 
and  beyond,  is  partly  built,  from  Bloomington  west  to  the  county  line  and 
beyond.  Still  another  state  road  is  under  way,  north  and  south,  known 
as  the  Meridian  Trail  road,  to  pass  eventually  from  Cairo  to  Rockford. 


CHAPTER  XXXV. 


MISCELLANEOUS,  CONTINUED. 


EXTINCT  TOWNS  AND  VILLAGES — POLITICAL  HISTORY— POPULATION  STATISTICS — 
INTERESTING   FACTS. 

Extinct  Towns  and  Villages. — In  the  course  of  years  there  have  been 
many  towns  proposed  and  some  of  them  laid  out  on  paper  or  perhaps 
actually  surveyed  and  platted,  which  events  of  later  years  caused  to  be 
abandoned.  The  county  has  several  such,  which  are  worthy  of  a  passing 
note  in  a  chronicle  like  this. 

Clarksville  was  laid  out  by  Joseph  and  Marston  C.  Bartholomew  in 
1836  in  Money  Creek  Township.  It  contained  twenty-four  lots.  Gen. 
Bartholomew  was  a  noted  man  of  his  time,  having  been  a  commander  in 
the  Indian  wars.  Clarksville  at  one  time  had  a  two-story  hotel,  a  card- 
ing mill,  several  business  houses,  and  its  population  numbered  300.  After 
Gen.  Bartholomew  died  in  1840,  the  village  fell  into  decay,  and  finally  only 
one  or  two  buildings  and  the  cemetery  mark  its  site. 

Monroe  was  laid  out  in  Empire  township  by  John  W.  Badderly  the 
year  before  LeRoy  was  platted.  It  never  grew  to  large  dimensions,  and 
when  Gen.  Gridley  and  M.  L.  Covell  laid  out  Leroy  they  gave  Badderly 
27  lots  in  the  new  town  and  he  moved  his  buildings  to  Leroy,  where  he 
continued  for  many  years  in  business. 

Lytleville  was  laid  out  in  1836  by  John  Baldwin,  consisting  of  85 
lots  located  in  section  23  of  Randolph  township,  northeast  of  Heyworth. 
Peru  was  another  town  in  the  same  township  on  section  24.  The  latter 
never  had  any  buildings  in  it,  being  a  paper  town.  Lytleville  once  aspired 
to  become  the  metropolis,  even  competing  for  the  county  seat.     A  saw 

383 


384  History  of  McLean  County 

mill  located  on  the  Kickapoo  had  been  erected  by  James  Hedrick,  and  this 
mill  formed  the  center  of  Baldwin's  town.  But  fate  was  against  Bald- 
win, and  in  spite  of  his  energy  he  was  never  able  to  permanently  establish 
his  little  city.  Baldwin  added  a  grist  mill  to  his  saw  mill,  and  at  one 
time  did  a  flourishing  business.  There  are  now  (1923)  only  two  old  build- 
ings left  standing  in  Lytleville. 

A  town  called  Livingston  was  once  projected  in  White  Oak  town- 
ship, but  it  never  got  beyond  the  paper  stage. 

Oak  Grove  was  another  village  in  White  Oak  township,  located  on 
section  28,  and  from  1878  to  '88  it  looked  promising.  Several  stores,  a 
postoffice,  mill,  harness  shop  and  twenty  dwellings  were  erected.  In  1887 
when  the  Lake  Erie  railroad  passed  a  mile  and  a  half  southwest  of  Oak 
Grove  and  the  town  of  Carlock  established  on  the  railroad,  most  of  the 
buildings  in  Oak  Grove  were  moved  to  Carlock,  and  the  former  village 
disappeared. 

Pleasant  Hill  was  laid  out  on  section  21,  Lexington  township  on  April 
6,  1840,  and  twelve  years  later  an  addition  of  48  lots  was  planned.  Isaac 
Smalley  was  the  founder  of  the  town,  and  the  name  was  appropriate  to' 
the  location.  Smalley  was  a  live  citizen  and  gave  his  energy  to  promotion 
of  his  settlement,  at  one  time  having  succeeded  in  having  there  three 
churches,  several  stores,  several  work  shops,  one  Academy  of  fifteen 
rooms,  and  some  50  dwellings.  Smalley  tried  to  get  the  Alton  railroad  to 
pass  through  his  town,  but  it  finally  went  through  Lexington  and  Pon- 
tiac,  passing  by  Pleasant  Hill  and  sounding  the  latter  town's  death  knell. 
The  town  of  Oneida,  east  of  Pleasant  Hill,  was  another  of  Smalley's 
dreams,  but  after  his  death  in  1855  both  towns  degenerated,  only  two  or 
three  houses  still  remaining  at  Pleasant  Hill. 

Danvers  township  was  the  site  of  the  once  planned  town  of  Wilkes- 
borough,  in  section  24.  It  was  laid  out  in  1837,  and  in  1859  had  some 
fifteen  families  residing  within  its  boundaries.  At  one  time  the  postoffice 
was  at  Wilkesborough,  and  the  people  of  Concord  (Danvers)  had  to  go 
there  to  get  their  mail.  The  town,  however,  died  out  and  Danvers 
survived. 

The  village  of  Mt.  Hope  was  laid  out  June  16,  1837,  by  William  Peck, 
agent  of  the  Farmers'  and  Mechanics'  emigrating  society,  being  located 
near  where  the  town  of  McLean  now  stands.  It  was  a  part  of  the  Mt. 
Hope  colony  scheme,  promoted  in  Rhode  Island,  by  which  each  stockholder 


History  of  McLean  County  385 

was  to  have  320  acres  of  land  and  four  town  lots.  The  panic  of  1837  hit 
the  colonization  scheme  and  destroyed  the  hopes  of  the  village.  A  certain 
Dr.  Whipple  had  the  largest  house  built,  and  there  were  several  others. 
When  the  Alton  road  was  built  and  the  village  of  McLean  was  established, 
the  church  and  other  buildings  were  moved  from  Mt.  Hope  to  McLean,  and 
the  town  plat  was  vacated  and  reverted  to  farm  lands  about  1854,  when 
Hudson  Burr  and  others  bought  the  site. 

A  town  called  Newcastle  was  once  laid  out  about  two  miles  from 
Atlanta,  but  it  was  abandoned  when  the  Alton  road  established  a  station 
at  Atlanta. 

West  was  the  name  applied  to  a  proposed  town  in  West  township 
which  never  got  further  than  the  paper  stage. 

Just  across  the  line  over  in  Woodford  county  north  of  the  McLean 
County  border,  was  the  town  of  Bowling  Green,  which  early  promised  to 
rival  Bloomington  as  a  trading  center.  Four  miles  west  of  Bowling  Green 
was  a  rival  town,  Verseilles,  and  these  two  competed  for  many  years  to 
become  county  seat  of  Woodford.  Verseilles  finally  won  and  enjoyed  the 
reputation  of  a  county  seat  for  several  years.  When  the  Illinois  Central 
road  was  built,  a  few  miles  east,  both  Bowling  Green  and  Verseilles 
went  backward  and  finally  disappeared. 

Political  History. — It  is  a  cause  of  pride  for  McLean  County  that  it 
has  a  political  record  worthy  of  its  people.  It  has  furnished  a  number 
of  distinguished  men  to  the  state  and  nation,  and  has  taken  an  active  and 
patriotic  part  in  every  election,  local,  state  or  national.  The  first  record 
of  political  feeling  among  the  people  living  in  this  section  is  that  of  a 
history  written  by  the  late  Capt.  J.  H.  Burnham  many  years  ago,  in 
which  he  told  of  the  sentiments  of  the  settlers  at  Blooming  Grove  in  the 
presidential  election  of  1824  as  being  "decidedly  in  favor  of  freedom." 
The  slavery  question  was  paramount  at  that  time.  The  first  political  divi- 
sion with  which  the  people  came  in  contact  was  the  organization  of  Oren- 
dorff  voting  precinct,  which  was  a  part  of  Tazewell  county  and  took  in  a 
wide  stretch  of  territory. 

The  election  of  1832  was  the  first  one  in  which  the  people  here  took 
a  part  after  the  organization  of  McLean  county.  The  leaders  of  the 
Democratic  party  in  its  early  history  were  Gen.  Merritt  L.  Covell,  Gen. 
Henry  Miller,  Welcome  P.  Brown,  and  Gov.  John  Morr  Moore.  Covell 
and  Miller  were  heroes  of  the  Black  Hawk  war. 
(23) 


386  History  of  McLean  County 

The  Whig  leaders  of  the  early  days  were  Jesse  W.  Fell,  David  Davis, 
Asahel  Gridley,  Gen.  Joseph  Bartholomew  and  Dr.  John  F.  Henry. 

John  Moore  was  the  most  successful  politician  of  the  county  in  his 
times.  He  was  a  member  of  the  house,  of  the  state  senate,  lieutenant 
governor,  and  state  treasurer.  In  the  Mexican  war  he  became  lieutenant- 
colonel  of  the  Fourth  Illinois  volunteer  regiment.  He  was  a  man  of  great 
ability  and  wide  popularity. 

Welcome  P.  Brown  was  the  first  McLean  county  man  to  be  elected 
to  the  legislature,  this  being  in  1834.  The  following  term,  John  Moore 
and  George  Hinshaw,  Democrats,  were  both  elected. 

The  Mexican  war  period  saw  political  feeling  aroused  to  a  high  pitch 
in  McLean  county  as  elsewhere.  Coming  on  down  to  1851,  the  time  of 
the  granting  of  the  charter  for  the  Illinois  Central  railroad  through  Illi- 
nois, McLean  county  was  fortunate  to  have  as  a  member  of  the  state  sen- 
ate Gen.  Gridley,  by  whose  shrewd  work  alone  the  railroad  was  routed 
through  his  district,  composed  of  McLean,  DeWitt  and  Macon  counties, 
and  thus  the  cities  of  Bloomington,  Clinton  and  Decatur  were  assured  of 
the  new  road.  Gen.  Gridley  was  a  Whig,  a  man  of  force  and  eloquence 
and  a  person  of  great  influence  in  the  senate. 

One  of  the  periods  of  high  tide  in  politics  of  McLean  county  was  that 
prior  to  the  Civil  war,  when  the  agitation  on  the  slavery  question  was 
shaping  itself  along  lines  which  later  led  to  the  Civil  war.  Of  course  the 
great  personage  who  stands  out  shoulders  and  head  above  all  others  in 
that  time  was  Abraham  Lincoln,  and  his  name  and  fame  are  closely 
woven  into  McLean  county  history  in  those  days.  As  a  lawyer  he  trav- 
eled this  circuit,  and  as  a  politician  was  a  familiar  figure  and  a  welcome 
guest  at  every  gathering.  Some  of  his  closest  personal  friends  were 
McLean  county  men,  such  as  David  Davis,  Jesse  Fell  and  others.  It  is  the 
most  interesting  fact  of  local  history,  perhaps,  that  when  Lincoln  became 
a  subject  of  serious  discussion  for  the  presidential  nomination,  it  was 
Jesse  Fell  of  Bloomington  who  besought  him  to  write  a  short  biography 
of  himself,  in  order  that  it  might  be  sent  broadcast  over  the  country 
and  the  people  informed  as  to  his  life.  Mr.  Lincoln  thereupon  sat  down 
and  on  two  short  •  sheets  of  paper  wrote  that  famous  autobiography  of 
himself  which  has  become  a  classic  in  American  political  literature,  and 
copies  of  which  have  been  put  into  every  library  and  political  history  of 
the  country.    The  original  manuscript  of  Lincoln's  autobiography  was  in 


History  of  McLean  County  387 

the  hands  of  the  daughters  of  Jesse  Fell  until  recent  times.  It  may  event- 
ually become  the  property  of  the  United  States  government  in  its  Wash- 
ington archives. 

The  most  famous  political  convention  ever  held  in  McLean  county 
was  that  of  May  29,  1856,  when  the  formation  of  the  Republican  party 
in  Illinois  was  cemented  and  when  Lincoln  as  one  of  the  delegates  and 
the  principal  orator  of  the  occasion  delivered  one  of  his  most  masterly 
speeches,  which  became  known  as  the  "lost  speech."  The  fiftieth  anni- 
versary of  that  occasion  was  celebrated  in  a  notable  way  in  Blooming- 
ton  on  May  29,  1906,  when  many  of  the  survivors  of  the  convention  were 
present  and  gave  their  personal  reminiscences  of  the  occasion.  To  pre- 
serve these  personal  recollections  in  permanent  form,  the  McLean  County 
Historical  society  published  a  volume  embodying  the  complete  proceed- 
ings of  the  anniversary  celebration.  That  volume  gives  the  whole  story 
and  it  can  be  only  briefly  referred  to  here.  The  convention  in  Blooming- 
ton  was  inspired  by  a  meeting  of  newspaper  editors  held  in  Decatur  on 
February  22  preceding,  at  which  resolutions  were  passed  defining  the 
principles  of  the  new  party  which  was  then  coming  into  being.  The 
Decatur  convention  called  for  the  later  meeting  in  Bloomington  whose 
purpose  was  to  nominate  a  slate  of  candidates  for  state  offices  and  offi- 
cially launch  the  new  party.  Suffice  it  to  say  that  the  speech  of  Lincoln 
at  that  May  convention  served  to  cement  the  various  elements  of  the 
newly  formed  party  in  a  harmonious  whole,  and  started  the  Republican 
party  upon  its  long  series  of  triumphs  in  the  state  of  Illinois. 

The  joint  debates  between  Lincoln  and  Douglas  in  the  senatorial 
campaign  of  1858,  further  served  to  elevate  Lincoln  to  a  place  of  promi- 
nence in  Illinois  and  the  nation.  None  of  these  debates  took  place  in 
McLean  county,  but  two  years  later  at  the  state  Republican  convention  in 
Decatur  Lincoln  was  formally  proposed  for  nomination  for  president, 
which  proposal  was  accepted  in  the  Chicago  convention  in  June.  The 
three  men  most  influential  in  securing  Lincoln's  nomination  were  Jesse 
W.  Fell,  David  Davis  and  Leonard  Swett.  Then  followed  the  war,  the 
emancipation  proclamation,  the  thirteenth  amendment  to  the  constitu- 
tion, and  the  end  of  the  long  slavery  contest  in  the  United  States. 

The  next  notable  political  epoch  so  far  as  McLean  county  is  con- 
cerned was  in  1868,  when  David  Davis  was  prominently  mentioned  for 
president  before  the  meeting  of  the  liberal  Republican  convention  at  Cin- 


388  History  of  McLean  County 

cinnati  in  May.    Davis  received  a  large  vote  at  one  time,  but  his  strength 
finally  went  to  Greeley,  who  was  nominated  and  defeated  at  the  election. 

In  the  wave  of  monetary  agitation  which  arose  in  the  '70's,  Adlai  E. 
Stevenson  was  elected  to  congress  on  the  greenback-democratic  ticket. 
One  of  the  factors  of  a  political  nature  was  the  constitutional  convention 
of  1870,  at  which  Judge  Reuben  M.  Benjamin  of  McLean  county  first 
wrote  into  a  legal  document  the  doctrine  on  which  was  based  legislation 
for  the  public  control  of  the  railroads.  In  the  presidential  deadlock  of 
1876,  Adlai  E.  Stevenson  of  this  county  voted  in  congress  for  the  elec- 
tion of  an  electoral  commission  to  settle  the  dispute,  which  course  of 
action  probably  prevented  armed  strife. 

Two  men  from  McLean  county  became  successively  governor  of  Illi- 
nois along  in  the  '80's.  John  M.  Hamilton  was  elected  lieutenant-gover- 
nor in  1880,  and  he  became  governor  on  February  6,  1883,  when  Gov. 
Cullom  was  elected  United  States  senator.  Joseph  W.  Fifer  was  elected 
governor  in  1888  and  served  a  term  of  four  years  with  high  honor,  being 
defeated  for  re-election  in  the  Democratic  landslide  of  1892.  The  latter 
year  saw  another  McLean  county  man  elevated  to  high  station,  when 
Adlai  E.  Stevenson  was  elected  vice  president  of  the  United  States.  His 
term  of  four  years  at  Washington  under  President  Cleveland  was  a  period 
of  fine  public  service.  In  1908,  Mr.  Stevenson  was  the  unsuccessful  can- 
didate of  his  party  for  governor  of  Illinois. 

In  the  great  campaign  year  of  1912,  when  the  Republican  party  was 
split  by  the  formation  of  the  Progressive  party  with  Theodore  Roosevelt 
as  its  head,  a  McLean  county  man  was  called  into  service  as  Progressive 
candidate  for  governor  in  the  person  of  Frank  H.  Funk,  who  had  pre- 
viously been  state  senator.  Mr.  Funk  made  a  good  showing,  for  he  ran 
within  a  few  thousand  votes  of  the  regular  Republican  nominee,  Deneen. 
The  Democratic  candidate,  Edward  F.  Dunne,  was  elected. 

Several  citizens  of  McLean  county  have  served  their  state  and  coun- 
try in  appointive  offices  of  great  responsibility.  Gov.  Fifer  served  many 
years  on  the  interstate  commerce  commission  in  Washington.  Carl  S. 
Vrooman  was  assistant  secretary  of  agriculture  in  the  Woodrow  Wilson 
administration.  There  have  been  several  judges,  including  Judge  David 
Davis  of  the  supreme  court,  Judge  Lawrence  Weldon  of  the  U.  S.  court  of 
claims,  Judge  Louis  FitzHenry  of  the  Southern  Illinois  Federal  judicial 


History  of  McLean  County  389 

district,  Judge  Martin  A.  Brennan  of  the  Illinois  state  court  of  claims. 
Judge  Wesley  M.  Owen  served  as  federal  judge  in  the  Panama  canal  zone 
for  several  years. 

The  political  history  and  tendencies  of  the  voters  of  McLean  county 
may  be  traced  in  the  total  vote  cast  for  candidates  for  president  in  the 
different  elections  held  since  1832,  when  the  first  recorded  balloting  in 
this  county  took  place.    The  results  by  years  were  as  follows: 

1832— Clay  (Whig)  128;  Jackson  (dem)  275. 

1836— Clay   (Whig)   425;  Van  Buren  (dem)  427. 

1840 — Harrison  (Whig)  683 ;  Van  Buren  (dem)  531.  Birney,  abo- 
litionist, received  159  votes  in  Illinois  but  none  in  McLean  county. 

1844— Clay  (Whig)  586;  Polk  (dem)  477;  Birney  (abol)  22. 

1848— Taylor  (Whig)  753 ;  Cass  (dem)  626 ;  Van  Buren  (free  soil)  94. 

1852— Scott  (Whig)  1,256;  Pierce  (dem)  1,058;  Hale  (free  soil)  40. 
1856 — Fremont  (rep)  1,937;  Buchanan  (dem)  1,517;  Fillmore  (Ameri- 
can) 650. 

I860— Lincoln  (rep)  3,547;  Douglas  (dem)  2,567;  Bell  (union)  58; 
Breckinridge   (dem)  7. 

1864— Lincoln   (rep)   4,001;  McClellan   (dem)   2,582. 

1868— Grant   (rep)   5,895;  Seymour   (dem)   3,858. 

1872— Grant  (rep)  5,845;  Greeley   (lib  dem)  3,335. 

1876— Hayes  (rep)  6,363;  Tilden  (dem)  4,410;  Cooper  (greenback) 
518. 

1880— Garfield  (rep)  7,317;  Hancock  (dem)  5,202;  Weaver  (green- 
back) 317. 

1884— Blaine  (rep)  7,437;  Cleveland  (dem)  5,569;  Butler  (green- 
back) 58 ;  St.  John  (pro)  449. 

1888 — Harrison  (rep)  7,709;  Cleveland  (dem)  5,939;  Weaver  (green- 
back) 63;  Fisk  (pro)  694;  Streeter  (labor)  36. 

1892 — Harrison  (rep)  7,445;  Cleveland  (dem)  6,487;  Weaver  (green- 
back)   (peo)  63;  Wooley  (pro)  769;  Debs  (soc)  95. 

1896— McKinley  (rep)  9,964;  Bryan  (dem)  6,320;  Palmer  (gold  dem) 
94;  Lovering  (pro)  307. 

1900— McKinley  (rep)  9,487;  Bryan  (dem)  6,613;  Wooley  (pro) 
583;  Debs  (soc)  95;  Barker  12;  Maloney  (soc  lab)  15;  Leonard  (U  C)  2; 
Ellis  (U  R)  11. 


390  History  of  McLean  County 

1904— Roosevelt  (rep)  8,722;  Parker  (dem)  4,149;  Swallow  (pro) 
1,114;  Debs  (soc)  846;  Corregan  (labor)  47;' Watson  (peo)  24;  Holcomb 
(cut)  3. 

1908— Taft  (rep)  8,953;  Bryan  (dem)  5,982;  Chafin  (pro)  840; 
Debs  (soc)  197;  Gilhaus  (soc  lab)  15;  Hisgen  (ind)  22;  Turney  (U  C)  4; 
Watson  (peo)  10. 

1912— Taft  (rep)  4,624;  Wilson  (dem)  5,336;  Chafin  (pro)  376;  Debs 
(soc)  562;  Reimer  (soc  lab)  26;  Roosevelt   (progressive)  4,350. 

1916— Hughes  (rep)  14,988;  Wilson  (dem)  11,699;  Hanley  (pro) 
1,016;  Benson  (soc)  450;  Reimer  (soc  lab)  7. 

1920— Harding  (rep)  16,680;  Cox  (dem)  6,411;  Debs  (soc)  133;  Wat- 
kins  (pro)  396;  Christensen  (farmer  labor)  1,904;  McCauley  (single  tax) 
15;  Cox  (soc  lab)  16. 

Population  Statistics. — The  population  of  McLean  county  when  or- 
ganized was  estimated  at  2,000.  Its  area  was  twice  its  present  area, 
comprising  what  is  now  part  of  Woodford,  Tazewell  and  DeWitt  counties. 
The  first  census  of  McLean  county,  in  1835,  gave  the  population  as  5,308. 
After  the  Black  Hawk  war  there  was  a  large  immigration  to  the  county 
from  the  south  and  east,  Kentucky  furnishing  the  majority  of  the  new- 
comers. This  southern  inflow  continued  until  about  1850,  and  it  gave 
a  southern  tinge  to  the  slavery  sentiment,  which  lasted  until  the  approach 
of  the  Civil  war,  when  anti-slavery  sentiment  predominated. 

By  1840,  the  census  showed  population  of  6,565,  of  whom  42  were 
colored.  Part  of  the  county  had  been  set  off  to  Logan,  DeWitt  and  Piatt 
counties,  and  this  year  another  part  was  set  off  to  Woodford. 

In.  1845  the  population  was  6,904,  the  hard  times  having  affected  the 
growth  of  population,  and  part  of  the  county  having  been  cut  off  to  Wood- 
ford since  the  last  census.  Federal  census  of  1850  showed  10,163.  The 
census  of  other  years  showed: 

1860— Population  28,772;  native  25,063;  foreign  3,709;  colored    192. 

1870— Population  53,980;  native  46,026;  foreign  7,962;  colored    427. 

1880— Population  60,100;  native  52,384;  foreign  7,716;  colored    687. 

1890— Population  63,063;  native  54,479;  foreign  8,557. 

1900— Population  67,843;  native  60,464;  foreign  7,319. 

1910— Population  68,008;  native  62,371;  foreign  5,637. 

1920— Population  70,107;  native  64,447;  foreign  4,554;  colored  1,060. 


History  of  McLean  County  391 

Following  is  the  population  of  the  incorporated  cities,  towns  and 
villages  in  McLean  county  for  the  years  1900,  1910  and  1920,  according 
to  the  official  reports  of  the  United  States  census: 

1920                    1910  1900 

Arrowsmith    344                      366  317 

Bloomington 28,725                 25,768  23,286 

Chenoa 1,311                   1,314  1,512 

Colfax    976                      965  1,153 

Danvers 616                      593  607 

Downs    295 

Gridley    720                      750  715 

Heyworth    851                      681  683 

Hudson 309                      375  378 

Leroy  1,680                   1,702  1,629 

Lexington   1,301                    1,318  1,415 

McLean   697                      707  532 

Saybrook 752                     805  879 

Towanda    404                      404  467 

The  following  is  the  official  U.  S.  census  report  of  the  population  of 
McLean  county  for  the  years  1910  and  1920,  divided  into  townships : 

1920  1910 

Allin  township,  including  Stanford  village 1,115  1,197 

Anchor  township  825  932 

Arrowsmith  township,  including  Arrowsmith  village 946  1,013 

Bellflower  township,  including  Bellflower  village  __                1,183  1,167 

Bloomington  township 2,034  2,025 

Bloomington  City  township,  coextensive  with  Bloom- 
ington city 28,725  25,768 

Blue  Mound  township,  including  Cooksville 1,053  1,176 

Cheney's  Grove  township,  including  Saybrook  village 1,479  1,557 

Chenoa  township,  including  Chenoa  city 2,002  2,117 

Cropsey  township 514  531 

Dale  township 866  1,022 

Danvers  township,  including  Danvers  village 1,497  1,543 

Dawson  township 1,109  1,235 


392  History  of  McLean  County 

Downs  township,  including  Downs  village 

Dry  Grove  township 

Empire  township,  including  Leroy  city 

Funk's  Grove  township 

Gridley  township,  including  Gridley  village 

Hudson  township,  including  Hudson  town 

Lawndale  township    

Lexington  township,  including  Lexington  city 

Martin  township,  including  Colfax  village 

Money  Creek  township 

Mt.  Hope  township,  including  McLean  village 

Normal  township,  including  Normal  town 

Oldtown  township 

Randolph  township,  including  Heyworth 

Towanda  township,  including  Towanda  village 

West  township    

White  Oak  township   

Yates  township 

Total  McLean  County 1 70,107         68,008 

Interesting  Facts. 

McLean  County  embraces  1,186  square  miles  with  an  approximate 
acreage  of  760,000. 

The  First  Methodist  church  of  Bloomington  was  organized  in  1832. 
The  First  Baptist  church  was  organized  in  1835.  The  Unitarian  church 
was  organized  in  1859. 

Ira  Lackey  put  in  the  first  plate  glass  front  for  a  store  in  Bloomington. 

The  First  Presbyterian  church  was  organized  in  1853  by  Rev.  C.  W. 
Babbitt. 

The  first  Roman  Catholic  church  was  organized  in  Bloomington  in 
1853  by  Father  Bernard  O'Hara. 

A.  Gridley,  J.  Y.  Scammon  and  J.  A.  Birch  organized  the  first  bank  in 
McLean  county. 

J.  G.  Miller  was  the  first  blacksmith  in  the  city  or  county,  having 
opened  a  shop  in  Bloomington  in  1850. 


1,137 

1,278 

848 

903 

2,523 

2,635 

624 

791 

1,753 

1,833 

1,062 

1,095 

685 

755 

2,123 

2,211 

1,624 

1,601 

716 

753 

1,497 

1,486 

5,959 

4,844 

774 

946 

1,978 

1,829 

1,123 

1,210 

871 

999 

655 

692 

807 

864 

History  of  McLean  County  393 

A.  B.  Ives  of  Bloomington  was  a  passenger  on  the  first  passenger  train 
running  south  of  Hudson  on  the  Illinois  Central. 

The  first  church  bell  in  Bloomington  was  put  up  in  the  Methodist 
church.    The  first  church  organ  was  in  the  First  Presbyterian. 

The  first  Masonic  lodge  was  organized  in  1847  and  W.  C.  Hobbs  was 
the  first  man  raised.  The  first  Odd  Fellows  lodge  was  formed  in  October, 
1851,  and  John  M.  Scott  was  first  initiated. 

The  first  fire  company  in  Bloomington  was  organized  in  1854  and  the 
first  fire  engine  purchased  in  Philadelphia.  George  T.  McElheny  was  the 
first  fire  department  chief. 

The  McLean  County  Bible  society  was  organized  in  September,  1852, 
and  Rev.  F.  N.  Ewing  was  president ;  D.  Wilkins  was  first  secretary ;  John 
Magoun  first  treasurer. 

Robert  Park  was  the  first  station  agent  in  Bloomington  for  the  Chi- 
cago &  Alton  railroad.    He  died  in  St.  Louis  in  1879. 

Bloomington  and  McLean  county  have  the  unique  distinction  of  hav- 
ing two  of  their  women  elected  to  the  position  of  President  General  of 
the  National  Society  of  the  Daughters  of  the  American  Revolution.  The 
fact  is  further  interesting  because  these  two  women  were  sisters,  they 
being  Mrs.  Letitia  Green  Stevenson  and  Mrs.  Julia  G.  Scott.  Mrs.  Steven- 
son, wife  of  Vice  President  Adlai  E.  Stevenson,  was  elected  the  second 
president  general,  following  the  death  of  Mrs.  Benjamin  Harrison,  the 
first  chief  executive.  Mrs.  Stevenson's  election  occurred  February  22, 
1893,  and  she  was  re-elected  Feb.  22,  1894.  Then  followed  the  administra- 
tion of  Mrs.  John  W.  Foster,  after  which  Mrs.  Stevenson  was  again  elected 
to  the  position  on  Feb.  22,  1896,  and  her  fourth  term  began  with  her 
re-election  on  Feb.  22,  1897. 


PART  II. 


Biographical  History 


Hon.  Thomas  C.  Kerrick,  eminent  lawyer  and  prominent  citizen  of 
Illinois,  is  a  native  of  Indiana.  He  was  born  in  Franklin  County,  Ind., 
April  24,  1848,  and  is  the  son  of  Nimrod  and  Mary  (Masters)  Kerrick. 

Nimrod  Kerrick  was  born  in  Loudon  County,  Va.,  Oct.  13,  1808,  and 
died  Dec.  13,  1897,  in  his  ninetieth  year.  Mary  (Masters)  Kerrick  was 
born  in  Lancaster  County,  Pa.,  Sept.  15,  1815,  and  died  Jan.  8,  1908,  in 
her  ninety-third  year.  They  were  married  in  Fairfield,  Franklin  County, 
Ind,  May  9,  1839.  In  1860  they  removed  to  Woodford  County,  111.,  and 
to  Bloomington,  McLean  County,  in  1877. 

In  his  early  young  manhood  Nimrod  Kerrick  taught  school  a  num- 
ber of  years,  during  which  time  he  fitted  himself  for  the  ministry,  and 
became  one  of  the  early  self-sacrificing  Circuit  riders  of  the  Methodist 
Church.  After  coming  to  Illinois  he  engaged  in  farming.  Their  chil- 
dren were  Eleanor  Josephine,  deceased  wife  of  Cyrus  Mull,  also  de- 
ceased, Phoebe  Ann,  widow  of  William  H.  Bracken,  residing  at  Brook- 
ville,  Indiana,  William  M.,  who  was  killed  in  battle  during  the  Civil  War, 
Leonidas  H.,  deceased  husband  of  Sarah  E.  Funk,  also  deceased,  and 
Thomas  C,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  who  from  the  age  of  12  to  21  years 
remained  and  worked  on  the  farm.  Prior  to  removing  to  Illinois  he  had 
received  the  benefit  of  good  public  schools,  and  an  advanced,  privately 
conducted,  academy.  His  next  school  attendance  was  a  two  years  elec- 
tive course  in  the  Wesleyan  University  at  Bloomington,  which  institu- 

394 


THOMAS   G.    KERRICK. 


Of  rm 


History  of  McLean  County  395 

tion,  some  years  after  he  had  been  successfully  practicing  law,  conferred 
upon  him  the  degree  of  Master  of  Arts,  Pro  Merito. 

He  was  licensed  to  practice  law  Jan.  7,  1875,  and  at  the  same  time 
was  admitted  to  an  equal  membership  in  a  well  established  law  firm  of 
the  Bloomington  Bar,  with  which  he  had  read  law,  and  had  at  times 
attended  to  some  of  the  legal  work  of  the  firm.  During  the  many  years 
of  his  arduous  law  practice  he  has  held  the  high  esteem  of  members  of 
his  profession  and  of  the  courts  wherever  his  legal  activities  have  called 
him. 

In  the  sixties,  particularly  when  the  Civil  War  had  greatly  depleted 
farm  help,  farmer  boys  of  12  and  upward  to  military  age  were  practically 
required  to  do  men's  work.  Nevertheless  Mr.  Kerrick  acquired  and  re- 
tained a  liking  for  farming,  and  farmer  people,  and  the  open  country 
life,  and  devotes  much  of  his  time  and  thought  to  his  farming  interests. 

In  politics  Mr.  Kerrick  is  a  Republican,  and,  although  preferring  the 
attainment  of  high  standing  in  his  profession  to  political  eminence  and 
distinction,  he  has  taken  an  active  part  in  promoting  the  welfare  of  the 
party  of  his  choice,  and  the  success  of  its  worthy  candidates  for  public 
office. 

In  his  early  practice  of  law  he  served  the  City  of  Bloomington  two 
terms  as  its  official  legal  adviser  and  attorney.  In  1888,  without  opposi- 
tion in  his  own  party,  he  was  nominated  for  membership  in  the  State 
Senate,  and  elected  for  the- four-year  term.  During  this  term  he  was 
Chairman  of  the  Judiciary  Committee  and  the  Penal  and  Reformatory 
Committee,  and  a  member  of  other  important  committees.  Of  the  many 
bills,  resolutions,  etc.,  referred  to  his  Committees,  not  one  was  smothered 
or  left  unacted  upon  by  the  Committee.  Each  and  every  one,  with  amend- 
ments proposed  by  the  Committee,  if  any  was  returned  to  the  Senate 
for  its  action,  with  a  recommendation  either  "that  it  do  pass,"  or  "that  it 
do  not  pass."  In  recognition  of  his  services  in  the  Senate  he  would  have 
received  a  second  unanimous  nomination  had  he  not  declined  to  be  a 
candidate  for  re-election. 

Together  with  Ex-Governor  Fifer,  Mr.  Kerrick  was  also  a  member 
of  the  recent  Constitutional  Convention,  Ex-Governor  Fifer  and  he  being 
the  two  delegates  elected  from  the  Senatorial  District  composed  of  Mc- 
Lean and  Ford  counties. 


396  History  of  McLean  County 

For  more  than  50  years  Mr.  Kerrick  has  been  an  active  and  efficient 
worker  in  movements  to  promote  the  general  welfare  of  his  community. 
Always  a  friend  of  education,  he  served  many  years  as  a  member  of  the 
Executive  Committee  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  the  Illinois  Wesleyan 
University,  and  was  one  of  the  two  Generals  in  command  of  the  compet- 
ing forces  which  in  a  little  more  than  one  month,  in  the  summer  of  1922, 
obtained  subscriptions  amounting  to  more  than  $700,000.00  for  the  use 
of  the  Wesleyan. 

He  was  the  first  president  of  the  Bloomington  Club,  and  served  in 
that  capacity  a  number  of  terms,  is  president  of  the  McLean  County 
Historical  Society,  and  also  for  many  years  one  of  the  trustees  of  the 
Brokaw  Hospital  Endowment  Fund,  a  fund  donated  by  Abram  Brokaw, 
the  income  of  which  makes  possible  the  permanent  great  usefulness  of 
the  Brokaw  Hospital. 

Although  diligent  and  thorough  in  the  practice  of  his  profession, 
his  versatility  includes  aptitude  as  a  toastmaster  and  an  after  dinner 
talker  on  festive  occasions,  and  in  public  speaking  in  general,  a  liking 
for  indoor  and  outdoor  recreative  sports  and  exercises,  and  socially  ming- 
ling with  his  friends. 

In  recognition  of  his  organizing  and  executive  ability,  a  mass  meet- 
ing of  Bloomington  citizens,  held  while  he  was  trying  a  law  suit  in  .i 
distant  part  of  the  State,  unanimously  elected  him  to  formulate  and 
conduct  a  campaign  which  resulted  in  changing  the  aldermanic  city 
government  of  Bloomington  to  the  commission  form.  Upon  the  notable 
occasion  of  the  visit  of  President  Roosevelt  to  Bloomington,  in  which 
preparations  upon  an  elaborate  scale  were  required  to  be  arranged  for  a 
full  day  and  evening  of  appropriate  entertainment  and  exercises,  he  acted 
as  chairman  of  the  general  committee  of  arrangements  by  request  of  a 
preliminary  meeting  of  prominent  citizens. 

On  Aug.  29,  1871,  Mr.  Kerrick  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Tollie  Armstrong,  an  adopted  daughter  of  David  and  Sarah  Armstrong. 
Mrs.  Kerrick's  death  occurred  May  8,  1902.  Three  children  were  born  to 
this  union,  the  first  of  whom  died  in  early  infancy.  Leonidas  H.,  the 
second  born,  the  husband  of  Leonia  (Van  Lear)  Kerrick,  is  a  farmer  and 
resides  on  his  farm  adjacent  to  Kerrick,  a  station  on  the  Illinois  Central 
Railroad,  which  takes  its  name  from  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  as  is 
also  the  case  with  the  Kerrick  Grain  Company,  operating  at  this  station. 


History  of  McLean  County  397 

The  daughter,  Alice  Kerrick  Dunn,  the  wife  of  Warren  C.  Dunn,  re- 
sides in  Columbus,  Ohio.  There  are  four  grandchildren,  Elizabeth,  Jose- 
phine, and  Thomas  VanLear  Kerrick,  and  Alice  Leonoir  Dunn. 

On  June  20,  1907,  Mr.  Kerrick  was  married  to  Miss  Alice  Harpole, 
daughter  of  Peter  and  Laura  Harpole,  natives  of  Ohio,  resident  in  Bloom- 
ington,  111.,  at  the  time  of  their  decease.  There  were  no  children  of  this 
marriage.     Mrs.  Kerrick  departed  this  life  Aug.  17,  1918. 

Mr  Kerrick  has  many  friends  throughout  the  State  of  Illinois,  and 
is  among  its  most  honored  and  respected  citizens.  Although  now  in  his 
seventy-sixth  year,  judged  by  his  physical  and  mental  vigor  and  alert- 
ness, it  would  be  a  grossly  absurd  misnomer  to  characterize  his  seventy- 
sixth  as  a  "declining  year." 


Dr.  Ralph  D.  Fox,  a  successful  physician  and  surgeon  of  Blooming- 
ton,  whose  practice  is  limited  to  eye,  ear,  nose  and  throat  diseases,  to 
which  he  has  devoted  special  study  and  attention,  is  a  native  of  Michi- 
gan. He  was  born  at  Cedar  Springs,  Mich.,  Sept.  14,  1877,  and  is  a  son 
of  Dr.  Asa  L.  Fox,  one  of  the  oldest  physicians  now  engaged  in  the  prac- 
tice in  Bloomington,  and  a  sketch  of  whom  appears  in  this  volume. 

Dr.  Ralph  D.  Fox  was  reared  at  Cedar  Springs,  Mich.,  Three  Rivers, 
Mich.,  Heppner,  Ore.,  and  Bloomington,  111.,  where  his  father  was 
engaged  in  the  practice  of  his  profession.  He  received  his  preliminary 
education  in  the  public  schools  and  the  Illinois  Wesleyan  University  at 
Bloomington,  graduating  in  the  class  of  1899  with  the  degree  of  A.  B. 
He  then  entered  the  department  of  medicine  and  surgery  at  the  Univer- 
sity of  Michigan,  where  he  was  graduated  with  the  degree  of  Doctor  of 
Medicine  in  1903.  He  then  located  in  Bloomington  with  Dr.  A.  L.  Fox 
for  eight  years,  then  attended  the  University  of  Vienna.  He  has  taken 
Post  Graduate  work  at  Harvard,  Massachusetts,  Eye  and  Ear  Infirmary 
and  the  University  of  Vienna. 

On  Nov.  25,  1913,  Dr.  Fox  was  married  at  Bloomington  to  Miss  Adella 
F.  Mcintosh,  a  native  of  Bloomington,  and  a  resident  of  this  city.  She  is 
a  daughter  of  George  and  Helen  (McGregor)  Mcintosh,  the  former  a 
native  of  Scotland  and  the  latter  of  Canada.  George  Mcintosh  died  in 
1917  and  his  wife  departed  this  life  in  1907.    To  Dr.  Ralph  D.  and  Mrs. 


398  History  of  McLean  County 

Fox  have  been  born  two  children,  Ralph  M.  and  Walter  S.,  both  attending 
school  in  Bloomington. 

Dr.  Fox  is  a  Republican  and  a  member  of  the  M.  E.  Church,  and  Mrs. 
Fox  is  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church.  He  is  a  32nd  degree  Mason, 
being  a  member  of  the  Bloomington  Consistory.  Dr.  Fox  is  a  capable 
physician  and  surgeon  and  recognized  as  one  of  the  leaders  of  his  pro- 
fession. 


Dr.  Asa  L.  Fox,  one  of  the  well  known  physicians  and  surgeons  of 
Bloomington,  who  has  been  successfully  engaged  in  the  practice  of  his 
profession  for  many  years,  is  a  native  of  Pennsylvania.  He  was  born 
two  miles  east  of  Danville,  Pa.,  Jan.  23,  1846,  and  is  a  son  of  Daniel  M. 
and  Eliza  (Lichtenmalner)  Fox,  both  natives  of  Pennsylvania,  the  former 
of  Bucks  County  and  the  latter  of  Northampton  County.  The  father  was 
a  school  teacher  in  early  life  and  during  the  latter  part  of  his  active 
career  he  was  engaged  in  farming. 

Dr.  Fox  was  one  of  six  children  born  to  his  parents,  the  others 
being  as  follows:  Mrs.  Marietta  Goodrich;  Elizabeth  Fox;  Mrs.  Eliza  M. 
Kidney,  and  John  P.  Fox,  all  of  whom  are  deceased,  and  Daniel  Fox,  who 
resides  at  Battle  Creek,  Mich. 

When  Dr.  Fox  was  a  child  his  parents  removed  to  Calhoun  County, 
Mich.,  where  he  was  reared  and  attended  the  country  schools.  He  later 
attended  Olivet  College  and  the  University  of  Michigan,  where  he  was 
graduated  from  the  pharmacy  department  in  1869  and  from  the  medical 
department  in  1870.  Immediately  after  receiving  his  degree  from  the 
medical  college  he  engaged  in  the  practice  of  his  profession  in  Michigan, 
where  he  remained  for  15  years.  He  then  went  to  Oregon  and  for  eight 
years  was  engaged  in  the  practice  in  that  state.  Thirty  years  ago  he 
came  to  Bloomington  and  since  that  time  has  been  actively  engaged  in 
the  practice  here.  It  will  thus  be  seen  that  he  has  the  unusual  record  to 
his  credit  of  having  been  continuously  engaged  in  the  practice  of  medicine 
and  surgery  for  53  years. 

On  July  18,  1876,  Dr.  Asa  L.  Fox  was  married  at  Lewistown,  111.,  to 
Miss  Cornelia  V.  Deems,  of  Lewistown,  where  she  was  born  April'  5,  1850, 
a  daughter  of  John  and  Phoebe    (Brown)    Deems,  natives  of  Ohio  and 


History  of  McLean  County  399 

early  settlers  in  Illinois.  John  Deems  was  born  in  1809  and  died  in  1898, 
and  his  wife  was  born  in  1809  and  died  in  1886.  To  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Fox  was 
born  one  son,  Dr.  Ralph  Deems  Fox,  a  well  known  physician  and  surgeon 
of  Bloomington,  a  sketch  of  whom  appears  in  this  volume. 

Dr.  Fox  is  a  Republican  and  he  and  Mrs.  Fox  are  members  of  the 
Methodist  Church.  As  a  physician  and  surgeon  and  a  citizen,  Dr.  Fox 
ranks  high  in  the  community. 


Dr.  John  L.  Yolton  has  been  a  successful  and  well  known  physician 
of  Bloomington  for  many  years.  He  was  born  in  Avena  Township,  Fay- 
ette County,  111.,  Aug.  10,  1858,  and  is  the  son  of  William  and  Belinda 
(McGeehon)  Yolton. 

William  Yolton  was  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  as  also  was  his  wife. 
They  were  early  settlers  of  Fayette  County,  111.,  where  Mr.  Yolton  en- 
gaged in  farming  in  Avena  Township.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Yolton,  now  de- 
ceased, were  the  parents  of  two  children:  Dr.  John  L.,  the  subject  of  this 
sketch,  and  Geneva,  born  in  1862,  now  living  in  North  Dakota,  is  the  wife 
of  John  Arnold. 

Dr.  Yolton  was  reared  on  his  father's  farm  in  Fayette  County  and 
received  his  education  in  the  district  schools,  and  taught  school  for  a 
time.  In  1887  he  was  graduated  from  Woman's  Medical  College  at  Chi- 
cago and  served  one  year  as  interne  in  Woman's  Hospital,  Chicago.  From 
1889  to  1892  Dr.  Yolton  was  physician  at  Croy  Agency,  Mont.,  in  the 
settlement  of  the  Crow  Indians.  Since  that  time  he  has  been  located  in 
Bloomington.  Dr.  Yolton  now  lives  retired  at  208  E.  Jefferson  St., 
Bloomington. 

Dr.  Yolton  was  married  the  first  time  in  1886  to  Miss  Ella  B.  Smith, 
a  native  of  St.  Elmo,  111.,  who  died  in  1889.  To  this  union  two  children 
were  born:  Blanche  Hossack,  born  in  1887,  lives  in  Syracuse,  N.  Y.,  and 
Wyman  B.,  born  in  1889,  died  in  1919.  On  Oct.  22,  1896,  Dr.  Yolton  was 
married  to  Dr.  Rhoda  Galloway,  a  native  of  Iowa,  born  in  1862,  and  a 
daughter  of  John  and  Elizabeth  (Hall)  Galloway,  natives  of  Pennsyl- 
vania. Mr.  Galloway  died  in  1862,  and  his  wife  died  in  1919.  To  Dr. 
John  L.  and  Rhoda   (Galloway)   Yolton  one  child  was  born,  Leroy  W., 


400  History  of  McLean  County 

born  in  1900.  He  now  teaches  school  in  Carleton  College,  Northfield, 
Minn. 

Dr.  Yolton  is  a  Republican,  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church, 
and  belongs  to  the  Masonic  lodge  and  the  Knights  of  Pythias. 

Dr.  Yolton  was  among  the  first  to  tender  his  services  at  the  outbreak 
of  the  World  war  and  he  was  assigned  to  the  Student  Army  Training 
Corps  of  Illinois  Wesleyan  University.  It  was  his  lot  to  take  care  of  the 
boys  of  the  educational  institution  who  were  anxious  to  participate  and 
who  occupied  the  barracks  erected  for  their  accommodation  north  of  the 
west  end  of  the  university  buildings.  Dr.  Yolton  served  faithfully  and 
efficiently  during  the  period  of  the  war  and  the  excellent  health  of  the 
students  during  this  period  was  largely  due  to  the  careful  attention 
given  them  by  Dr.  Yolton  and  his  associates. 


Judge  Thomas  Kennedy,  a  prominent  attorney  of  Bloomington,  is  a 
member  of  one  of  Illinois'  oldest  and  most  prominent  pioneer  families. 
He  was  born  on  a  farm  in  Minonk  Township,  Woodford  County,  111.,  and 
is  a  son  of  Thomas  and  Catherine  Kennedy. 

Mr.  Kennedy  received  his  education  at  the  winter  terms  of  the  dis- 
trict schools  in  the  neighborhood  and  in  the  city  schools  of  Minonk.  His 
mother  died  when  he  was  a  small  child  and  his  father  died  when  he  was 
19  years  of  age.  He  worked  on  a  farm  first  for  his  father  and  after- 
ward as  a  farm  hand  for  neighboring  farmers.  While  working  on  the 
farm  Mr.  Kennedy  prepared  himself  for  teaching,  received  a  certificate 
and  taught  school  for  about  four  years,  the  last  year  of  which  was  spent 
in  the  city  schools  of  Minonk.  While  teaching  his  last  year  he  entered 
the  law  office  of  Martin  L.  Newell,  a  well  known  lawyer  and  author  of 
law  books,  at  Minonk,  111.  Here  he  studied  for  two  years  and  passed 
the  examination,  being  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1886.  He  served  as  city 
attorney  of  Minonk,  was  appointed  Master  in  Chancery  of  Woodford 
County  in  1887,  and  moved  to  Metamora,  where  he  opened  a  law  office, 
near  the  old  court  house,  now  a  Lincoln  Memorial  building  owned  and 
cared  for  by  the  state  of  Illinois. 

In  1888,  Mr.  Kennedy  was  elected  State's  Attorney  of  Woodford 
County,  and  the  following  year  entered  into  a  partnership  with  his  for- 


THOMAS   KENNEDY. 


of  ms 


History  of  McLean  County  401 

mer  preceptor,  Martin  L.  Newell  and  returned  to  Minonk.  Mr.  Newell 
was  state  senator  and  was  engaged  in  writing  law  books  and  much  of 
the  law  business  of  the  firm  was  handled  by  the  junior  member.  This 
partnership  continued  until  1893  when  Mr.  Newell,  having  been  ap- 
pointed assistant  attorney  general  of  the  state  of  Illinois  and  reporter 
of  the  appellate  courts,  moved  to  Springfield.  Mr.  Kennedy  filled  the 
office  of  state's  attorney  for  eight  years,  retiring  in  1896.  He  after- 
wards held  the  same  office  for  a  term  of  four  years,  1912  to  1916,  making 
12  years  in  all  as  a  public  prosecutor.  During  that  time  and  since  his 
retirement  from  that  position  he  has  taken  part  in  the  prosecution  of 
many  of  the  most  important  criminal  cases  tried  in  central  Illinois.  In  a 
case  recently  tried  in  one  of  the  counties  of  central  Illinois,  where  he  was 
seated  with  the  state's  attorney,  the  defense  moved  the  court  to  order 
his  withdrawal  from  the  case,  his  experience  being  one  of  the  grounds 
urged  in  support  of  the  motion.  The  judge,  however,  refused  to  take 
such  a  radical  step. 

In  1898  Mr.  Kennedy  was  elected  county  judge  of  Woodford  County 
and  held  that  position  for  two  terms,  eight  years.  During  that  time, 
in  addition  to  discharging  the  duties  of  a  judge,  in  Woodford  County,  he 
held  exchange  terms  in  many  of  the  surrounding  counties.  He  had  a 
very  extensive  law  practice  and  was  well  known  in  the  courts  of  Pontiac, 
Ottawa,  Lacon,  Peoria,  Pekin  and  Bloomington,  as  well  as  in  his  own 
county.  In  1918,  he  moved  to  Bloomington  and  opened  a  law  office  in 
the  Griesheim  building,  across  from  the  northeast  corner  of  the  court 
house  square.  In  November,  1920,  he  formed  a  law  partnership  with 
his  son,  Kaywin  Kennedy,  and  they  are  now  in  active  practice  under  the 
firm  name  of  Kennedy  &  Kennedy.  They  have  an  extensive  practice 
here  and  still  retain  a  large  practice  in  the  surrounding  counties. 

Judge  Kennedy  married  Miss  Clara  Hart,  a  daughter  of  Allen  Hart, 
one  of  the  pioneers  of  Woodford  County.  Her  mother,  Mrs.  Martha  A. 
Hart,  is  now  living  in  Bloomington.  There  are  two  sons  in  the  Kennedy 
family,  Kaywin  and  Thomas  Hart  Kennedy.  Kaywin  Kennedy  is  a  grad- 
uate of  the  University  of  Illinois  and  of  the  Northwestern  Law  School 
of  Chicago.  Thomas  Hart  Kennedy  is  a  graduate  of  Culver  Military 
Academy  and  has  taken  courses  in  economics  and  transportation  at  Le- 
land  Stanford  and  Columbia  universities  and  has  written  many  articles, 
and  a  book  on  aviation,  transportation  and  kindred  subjects.  Both  of 
(24) 


402  History  of  McLean  County 

them  served  their  country  in  the  World  War  and  came  out  of  the  army 
as  commissioned  officers,  and  one  of  them,  Kay  win,  saw  service  over- 
seas. 

Judge  and  Mrs.  Kennedy  live  in  a  beautiful  home  on  Broadway,  in 
Normal,  adjacent  to  Bloomington,  and  take  an  active  part  in  the  educa- 
tional and  social  affairs  of  the  community. 


Wolf  Griesheim. — Fifty-nine  years  have  passed  since  Wolf  Griesheim 
left  his  kindred  in  the  fatherland  to  make  his  way  in  the  land  of  his  adop- 
tion. He  has  never  had  reason  to  regret  his  step.  His  fellow  citizens 
have  never  had  reason  to  regret  his  coming.  For  it  was  men  of  his  type 
that  built  up  the  business  field  of  the  Evergreen  City  until  it  ranked  with 
the  soundest  and  most  successful  of  the  inland  cities  of  the  great  west. 
They  built  upon  foundations  of  integrity  and  honor.  They  won  the  confi- 
dence of  the  community.  They  earned  the  respect  and  esteem  of  unnum- 
bered friends.  Now  at  the  sunset,  it  will  be  timely  to  recall  something  of 
their  early  days  and  their  experiences,  the  vicissitudes  of  the  pioneer  com- 
mercial activities,  as  they  blazed  the  way  for  those  who  were  to  follow 
and  later  relieve  them  of  the  burdens  and  responsibilities  that  they  had 
so  long  and  so  ably  carried. 

Mr.  Griesheim  was  19  years  of  age  when  he  arrived  in  Bloomington. 
It  was  on  a  Christmas  morning.  He  had  $5.00  in  his  purse,  his  sole  pos- 
sessions outside  of  a  purposeful  ambition  and  industry.  He  made  the 
journey  from  New  York  on  an  emigrant  train,  due  to  the  lower  price  of 
fare.  He  was  eight  days  in  covering  the  journey  of  1,000  miles,  which 
now  takes  less  than  two.  With  a  small  bundle,  which  carried  his  spare 
clothing,  he  started  to  walk  up  West  Chestnut  Street  to  the  city,  the  Chi- 
cago &  Alton  depot  being  located  in  the  freight  yards  in  those  early  days. 

Unable  to  speak  the  English  language,  Mr.  Griesheim  found  some  dif- 
ficulty in  securing  information,  but  finally  met  Tol  Lawrence,  later  of 
Denver,  who  was  able  to  understand  the  name  of  Resiel  Livingston,  whom 
Mr.  Griesheim  knew  in  Germany.  Lawrence  guided  the  newcomer  to  the 
Livingston  store,  then  known  as  the  S.  &  A.  Livingston,  located  at  the 
northwest  corner  of  Center  and  Washington  streets.  He  was  given  a  cor- 
dial welcome  and  ate  breakfast  at  the  home  of  Sam  Livingston.     Mr. 


History  of  McLean  County  403 

Griesheim  was  then  taken  to  the  store  of  Abe  Berman,  now  the  site  of  the 
Livingston  building,  where  he  went  to  work  at  once  as  a  clerk.  It  was 
the  original  plan  of  Mr.  Griesheim  to  start  out  as  a  peddler  and  sell  goods 
in  the  rural  districts,  but  Berman  argued  against  this  and  advised  the 
youth  to  learn  the  business  and  then  embark  upon  his  own  hook.  He 
started  his  new  clerk  at  the  munificent  salary  of  $100  per  annum,  which 
included  board,  lodging  and  washing.  The  new  clerk  startled  the  natives 
with  his  energy.  He  found  the  store  dirty  and  unkempt  and  the  stock 
neglected,  poorly  arranged,  and  carelessly  displayed.  In  a  few  days  he 
affected  a  transformation.  He  washed  the  windows,  scrubbed  the  floors 
at  night  on  his  hands  and  knees,  rearranged  the  stock,  put  on  attractive 
displays,  etc.  In  those  days  the  merchants  had  wide  wooden  awnings 
and  a  large  proportion  of  the  stock  was  displayed  on  the  sidewalk  during 
the  day.  So  faithful  was  the  new  clerk  and  so  valuable  did  he  become 
that  Berman  raised  his  pay  three  times,  until  he  was  finally  drawing  the 
princely  wage  of  $35  per  month  and  board.  Then  came  a  calamity.  Ber- 
man died.  A.  Livingston  took  possession  of  the  store  while  Mr.  Gries- 
heim went  to  the  S.  &  A.  Livingston  store  at  the  northwest  corner  of 
Center  and  Washington  Streets,  known  as  the  headquarters.  Maik  Liv- 
ingston and  Mr.  Griesheim  were  given  an  eighth  interest  in  the  business 
in  1868  when  a  new  building  was  erected,  but  the  two  boys  were  dissatis- 
fied and  the  firm  then  sold  out  to  the  pair  and  they  formed  a  partnership, 
known  as  Livingston  &  Griesheim,  which  continued  until  1886,  when  the 
partnership  was  dissolved,  Mr.  Griesheim  opening  a  store  alone  three 
doors  to  the  north.  Of  that  little  group  of  German  born  business  men 
who  came  to  Bloomington  in  the  sixties  and  who  became  such  an  impor- 
tant part  in  the  mercantile  field,  Mr.  Griesheim  is  the  last  surviving. 

The  new  store  was  known  as  the  U.  S.  and  the  name  was  selected 
by  William  McCambridge,  then  a  well-known  member  of  the  Pantagraph 
editorial  staff.  While  Mr.  Griesheim  was  in  New  York,  McCambridge 
looked  after  the  advertising.  He  kept  the  cabalistic  letters  "U.  S."  before 
the  public  and  had  everybody  in  central  Illinois  guessing  as  to  the  mean- 
ing. The  day  of  the  opening  a  page  "ad"  in  the  Pantagraph  explained  the 
secret  and  the  inaugural  was  a  great  success. 

Finding  it  necessary  to  expand  and  being  unable  to  purchase  either 
of  the  adjacent  buildings,  Mr.  Griesheim  in  1890  purchased  the  site  of  the 
present  Griesheim  building,  paying  more  for  the  lots  than  ever  previously 


404  History  op  McLean  County 

recorded  for  business  realty,  and  erecting  Bloomington's  first  sky-scraper 
in  1896.  This  structure  was  destroyed  by  fire  in  the  great  fire  of  1900, 
but  Mr.  Griesheim  with  his  usual  energy  was  open  for  business  four  days 
later,  securing  a  building  on  Front  Street,  which  he  occupied  until  the 
present  fine  structure  was  erected  the  following  winter,  moving  in  on 
Dec.  1st.  Mr.  Griesheim  sold  out  in  1915  to  his  two  sons,  and  has  since 
taken  life  easy,  enjoying  to  the  fullest  the  fruits  of  his  labors  as  a  busi- 
ness man  of  Bloomington,  his  sons  successfully  carrying  on  the  enterprise 
that  he  had  launched  and  so  ably  conducted. 

Mr.  Griesheim  gives  much  of  his  credit  for  success  to  the  warm 
friends  whom  he  met  after  arriving  in  Bloomington.  Among  the  first  was 
W.  0.  Davis,  who  came  to  Bloomington  in  1865.  Others  included  Col.  D. 
C.  Smith,  Charles  Gehmlin,  Squire  Vanordstrand  of  Hey  worth;  Chris 
Naffziger,  of  Danvers;  J.  E.  McCormick;  Wesleyan  Crain,  of  McLean; 
Jacob  Gingerich,  of  Dry  Grove,  who  was  his  first  customer;  Sam  A.  Deal, 
of  Dry  Grove;  Julius  Reichel,  Peter  Whitmer,  Joseph  Pitts,  William 
Muhl,  and  Warren  C.  Watkins.  The  latter  saved  him  from  serious  finan- 
cial loss.  His  money,  in  the  early  seventies,  was  deposited  in  the  old 
Home  Bank.  Watkins  learned  that  the  bank  was  insolvent  and  warned 
him  to  withdraw  his  funds.  He  did  so  just  in  time.  Otherwise  he  might 
have  been  ruined.  In  the  reconstruction  days  that  followed  the  Civil 
War  and  the  panicky  era  of  the  early  seventies,  many  retail  and  whole- 
sale firms  went  under,  and  it  required  careful  pilotage  to  steer  clear  of 
the  shoals  that  perilled  the  mercantile  craft. 

Twenty  years'  service  on  the  board  of  supervisors  enabled  Mr.  Gries- 
heim to  do  much  for  the  city  and  county,  and  he  proved  a  valuable  mem- 
ber. It  was  the  fashion  in  those  days  to  ignore  the  claims  of  justices 
of  the  peace  and  constables  for  services  rendered.  Mr.  Griesheim  inves- 
tigated such  accounts  and  when  he  found  that  they  were  legitimate  and 
had  been  well  earned,  he  made  an  effective  plea  that  the  bills  be  allowed, 
and  the  committee,  thanks  to  his  efforts,  did  so,  thus  earning  for  him  the 
gratitude  of  the  men  who  had  previously  experienced  great  difficulty  in 
securing  satisfaction. 

Mr.  Griesheim  was  always  a  great  admirer  of  Gov.  J.  W.  Fifer,  and, 
when  the  latter  made  his  race  for  governor,  Mr.  Griesheim  sent  to  Dan- 
vers and  with  the  aid  of  Pete  Elkins  secured  a  wagon  load  of  brick  that 
Fifer  and  Elkins  had  made  when  they  were  boys  together  on  the  Danvers 


History  of  McLean  County  405 

farm.  The  brick  were  placed  in  the  Griesheim  window  and  proved  an 
effective  advertisement  for  the  governor.  The  display  was  written  up 
in  the  Chicago  and  down  state  papers  and  proved  a  great  hit. 

Many  changes  have  been  noted  by  Mr.  Greisheim  in  merchandising 
methods.  Forty  to  50  years  ago  traveling  clothing  salesmen  brought  the 
whole  garment  along  instead  of  the  picture  style  books  with  samples 
of  clothes  that  thus  reduce  traveling  expenses.  Sometimes  the  salesmen 
would  carry  as  many  as  30  trunks  filled  with  suits  of  various  kinds.  To- 
day the  average  salesman  of  clothing  carries  usually  a  single  suit  case. 
The  styles  have  changed  also.  No  one  would  wear  the  bell  bottom  trou- 
sers today  of  two  generations  ago;  the  plug  hats,  the  tape  edged  cut- 
aways, the  Windsor  flowing  ties,  and  other  evidences  of  elegance  and 
smartness  displayed  by  the  Beau  Brummels  of  long  ago  have  gone,  per- 
haps never  to  return  except  possibly  in  the  movies. 

In  the  early  days  no  one  thought  of  keeping  tailors  in  the  stores  to 
remodel  suits.  If  the  trousers  or  vests  were  too  loose,  they  were  tight- 
ened by  the  buckle.  Alterations  had  to  be  performed  by  the  patron,  if 
they  were  made.  This  change  in  conditions  as  well  as  many  others  that 
might  be  recalled  came  by  degrees,  but  so  gradually  that  the  public  paid 
little  attention  to  them.  The  great  palaces  of  trade  now  bear  little  resem- 
blance to  the  insignificance  of  stores  of  the  sixties  with  their  small  stocks 
and  primitive  methods.  Only  those  who  have  been  privileged  to  witness 
the  transformation  can  fully  realize  the  contrast. 

As  a  leading  member  of  the  Bloomington  Benevolent  Society  for 
many  years,  Mr.  Griesheim  took  an  active  part  in  looking  after  the  needy 
and  dependent,  and  hundreds  have  had  reason  to  bless  his  generosity  and 
consideration  for  those  afflicted  or  in  distress. 

Now,  in  retrospection,  as  he  gazes  back  over  the  years  he  has  no 
regrets  and  finds  satisfaction  in  completed  service,  well  performed. 
Through  unfaltering  courage,  a  character  stainless,  a  name  that  is  hon- 
ored, he  achieved  unusual  success,  a  goal  that  many  seek  in  vain. 

Wolf  Grieshem  was  married  in  the  old  Sherman  House  in  Chicago, 
Oct.  12,  1870.  Mrs.  Griesheim  was  born  in  Albany,  N.  Y.,  June  14,  1846, 
a  daughter  of  Samuel  and  Henrietta  Friend. 

Mr.  Griesheim  practically  retired  from  the  mercantile  business  about 
ten  years  ago,  and  his  sons,  Myron  H.  Griesheim  and  Julius  Griesheim, 
continued  the  active  management  of  the   Griesheim  clothing  business, 


406  History  of  McLean  County 

which  is  located  in  the  Griesheim  building  on  the  northeast  corner  of 
the  public  square. 

In  1923  Myron  H.  Griesheim  died  and  the  business  is  now  under  the 
management  of  the  other  brother,  Julius. 

Myron  H.  Griesheim,  deceased,  was  born  in  Bloomington,  Oct.  10, 
1879.  He  was  educated  in  the  Jefferson  schools  and  the  State  Normal 
University,  and  Wesleyan  University.  At  the  age  of  18  years  he  entered 
the  store  of  his  father  and  when  he  was  21  years  old  he  was  taken  into 
the  firm,  then  composed  of  his  father,  Wolf  Griesheim,  and  his  brother, 
Julius,  who  continues  the  active  management  of  the  business. 

Besides  the  two  sons,  Myron  H.  and  Julius,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wolf  Gries- 
heim have  had  had  two  daughters,  Florence,  now  Mrs.  Milton  Livingston, 
and  Cora,  married  E.  B.  Heller,  and  died  April  1,  1912,  in  St.  Louis,  Mo.  A 
son,  Edward  Griesheim,  died  in  October,  1893,  at  about  the  age  of  21 
years. 


Lawrence  Edgar  Farlow,  secretary  of  the  Farmers  Grain  Dealers 
Association  of  Illinois,  is  among  the  substantial  business  men  of  Bloom- 
ington. He  was  born  in  Jefferson  County,  111.,  Jan.  2,  1889,  and  is  the 
son  of  Samuel  Marion  and  Nancy  M.  (Redmond)  Farlow. 

Samuel  Marion  Farlow,  a  native  of  Jefferson  County,  III,  attended 
Ewing  College  and  taught  school  for  a  number  of  years.  He  was  a  suc- 
cessful farmer  and  now  lives  retired.  His  wife  died  in  October,  1897,  and 
is  buried  in  the  Hams  Grove  Cemetery,  near  Mt.  Vernon,  111.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Farlow  were  the  parents  of  four  sons  and  seven  daughters. 

Lawrence  Edgar  Farlow  grew  up  on  his  father's  farm  near  Mt. 
Vernon  and  attended  the  public  schools  and  Ewing  College  at  Ewing, 
111.  After  teaching  school  five  years  Mr.  Farlow  was  made  manager  of 
the  Fisher  Farmers'  Grain  &  Coal  Co.,  at  Fisher,  111.,  in  1912.  He  con- 
tinued in  that  work  until  1919  when  he  was  appointed  state  secretary  of 
the  Farmers  Grain  Dealers  Association  of  Illinois. 

On  Feb.  26,  1910,  Mr.  Farlow  was  married  at  Farmington,  Mo.,  to 
Miss  Bertie  A.  Bumpus  ,a  native  of  Jefferson  County,  111.,  and  the  daugh- 
ter of  Rev.  Samuel  and  Effie  (Riggs)  Bumpus,  natives  of  Illinois,  who 
live  at  Green  Valley,  III,  where  Reverend  Bumpus  has  charge  of  a  Metho- 


History  of  McLean  County  407 

dist  Church.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Farlow  two  children  have  been  born: 
Coenia  Blanche,  born  Feb.  3,  1911,  and  Edwin  Marion,  born  June  22,  1914. 
Mr.  Farlow  is  a  Democrat,  a  member  of  the  First  Methodist  Episco- 
pal Church  and  belongs  to  the  Masonic  lodge  and  Bloomington  Consistory. 
He  is  a  reliable  citizen  and  merits  the  esteem  in  which  he  is  held  in  the 
community. 


George  Agle,  retired,  has  been  a  prominent  citizen  and  successful 
business  man  of  Bloomington  for  many  years.  He  was  born  in  Erie 
County,  N.  Y.,  in  1843,  and  is  the  son  of  Frederick  and  Laney  (Henry) 
Agle,  both  natives  of  Germany. 

Frederick  Agle  came  to  America  with  his  parents  when  a  boy  of  11 
years  and  settled  in  Erie  County,  N.  Y.  His  father,  George  Agle,  was 
a  soldier  under  Napoleon  for  llV->  years,  during  which  time  he  was  at 
the  memorable  siege  and  burning  of  Moscow,  Russia.  He  lived  to  be 
80  years  of  age,  and  a  unique  incident  of  his  life  was  the  fact  that  he 
had  never  ridden  horseback  or  in  a  wagon.  Frederick  Agle  followed  agri- 
culture pursuits  in  Erie  County,  N.  Y.,  until  1880  when  he  removed  to 
Bloomington.  There  were  eight  children  in  the  Agle  family,  of  whom 
George,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  the  third  in  order  of  birth. 

George  Agle  lived  on  a  farm  until  he  was  16  years  old  and  received 
his  education  in  the  district  school.  He  then  went  to  Hamburg,  Erie 
County,  N.  Y.,  and  engaged  in  the  tanning  and  currier  trade,  at  which  he 
served  three  years.  He  then  removed  to  Illinois,  locating  at  Bloomington, 
where  he  became  a  dealer  in  hides,  wool,  feed  and  leathers.  Mr.  Agle  now 
lives  retired  and  the  business  is  carried  on  by  his  sons,  George  F.,  William 
F.,  and  Charles  F.  J.  Agle. 

Mr.  Agle  was  married  in  1869  to  Miss  Caroline  W.  Eckhardt,  who  was 
born  in  Erie  County,  N.  Y.,  the  daughter  of  George  and  Margaret  (Bley) 
Eckhardt.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Agle  have  three  sons,  mention  of  whom  is 
made  above. 

George  Agle  is  a  Republican  and  a  member  of  the  German  Lutheran 
Church.  He  is  a  substantial  citizen  and  his  family  has  always  stood  high 
in  Bloomington.  His  wife  died  May  20,  1918.  She  was  a  member  of  the 
German  Lutheran  Church. 


408  History  of  McLean  County 

Dr.  Cyrenius  Wakefield,  of  old  English  stock,  was  born  in  Water- 
town,  N.  Y.,  July  12,  1815,  and  was  the  fifth  in  a  family  of  six.  When  a 
youth  he  worked  his  father's  farm  in  summer  and  taught  school  in  win- 
ter. In  1837  he  came  to  Bloomington,  on  the  lakes  to  Chicago,  from  there 
by  stage  to  LaSalle,  on  the  river  to  Pekin,  where  putting  his  luggage 
on  a  wagon  loaded  with  merchandise  coming  this  way  he  set  out  on  foot, 
reaching  the  town  of  Bloomington  in  two  days.  For  a  time  he  taught 
school  south  of  here  but  lived  west  of  Farmer  City,  where  later  he  also 
taught  school.  In  four  years  he  owned  a  farm  and  comfortable  home. 
He  was  now  ready  for  marriage  and  his  heart  went  back  to  a  beloved 
schoolmate  in  the  home  of  his  youth.  On  Aug.  17,  1843,  he  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Harriet  Richardson,  a,  relation  of  General  Grant.  To  Dr. 
and  Mrs.  Wakefield  four  children  were  born  as  follows:  Emma,  Oscar, 
Harriet  and  Homer.  Emma,  deceased,  was  the  wife  of  A.  S.  Eddy,  also 
deceased.  To  this  union  five  children  were  bora  as  follows :  Emma  Agus- 
ta,  wife  of  H.  N.  Woods,  Bloomington;  Florence  Josephine,  deceased,  was 
wife  of  H.  0.  Davis,  Bloomington ;  Adelbert  Cyrenius,  Los  Angeles,  Calif. ; 
Louis  0.,  manager  of  C.  Wakefield  &  Company  factory,  Bloomington;  and 
Maxwell,  residing  in  Chicago,  111.  Oscar,  deceased,  early  lost  his  two 
sons,  Herbert  and  Bruce.  Harriet  now  resides  in  Bloomington.  Homer, 
a  physician,  lives  in  New  York  City.  He  is  the  father  of  three  children, 
Sherman,  Elizabeth  and  Harriet,  all  of  whom  reside  in  New  York  and 
vicinity. 

Harriet  (youngest  daughter  of  Dr.  Cyrenius  Wakefield)  was  edu- 
cated in  the  public  schools  of  Bloomington,  later  attending  Miss  Grant's 
Seminary  in  Chicago,  followed  by  an  extended  trip  abroad.  On  May  11, 
1886,  she  was  married  to  Albert  B.  Brady,  a  native  of  Iowa,  born  Sept. 
19,  1862.  Mr.  Brady  was  a  direct  descendant  of  General  Warrington  of 
Revolutionary  fame.  On  graduating  from  Knox  College  he  was  engaged 
in  newspaper  work,  which  he  soon  gave  up  in  order  to  assist  his  dear 
friend,  S.  S.  McClure,  to  found  McClure's  Magazine.  Mr.  Brady  occupied 
the  position  of  secretary  and  advertising  manager  of  the  McClure  Pub- 
lishing Company  until  his  death,  Dec.  25,  1900,  in  Rome,  Italy.  To  Albert 
B.  and  Harriet  (Wakefield)  Brady  two  children  were  born:  Florence,  now 
residing  with  her  mother  in  Bloomington;  and  Albert  B.,  who  lives  in 
Los  Angeles,  Calif.,  where  he  is  engaged  in  business. 


DR.    OYRENirS    WAKEFIELD. 


s&sny  of  wjw*? 


History  of  McLean  County  409 

Dr.  Cyrenius  Wakefield's  brother  Zera  was  a  fine  physician  and  had 
much  experience  in  the  South  before  coming  to  Illinois  in  1843.  The  two 
brothers  opened  a  store  at  Point  Isabelle,  Dewitt  County,  111.  Such  a  de- 
mand was  made  for  Zera's  medicines  that  preparations  were  made  to 
manufacture  them.  Dr.  Zera  Wakefield  died  in  1848,  leaving  his  brother 
sole  owner  of  the  business  and  formulas. 

Dr.  Cyrenius  Wakefield  became  very  skillful  in  his  work.  Early  in 
1850  he  built  a  two  story  frame  house  in  Bloomington,  where  the  large 
store  of  A.  Livingston  &  Sons  stands  today.  Passing  into  the  front  door 
from  the  hall  you  could  enter  the  living  room  to  your  left,  or  the  drug 
store  to  your  right.  The  stairway  led  to  sleeping  rooms.  In  1851  Dr. 
Wakefield  erected  a  three  story  brick  building  on  a  lot  lying  to  the  west, 
which  was  devoted  to  the  manufacture  of  his  medicines — by  this  time 
well  established.  In  1852  he  purchased  an  additional  building  and  placed 
it  on  the  west  of  the  large  brick  building.  In  the  third  story  he  pub- 
lished a  paper  known  as  the  "Illinois  State  Bulletin."  His  brother-in-law, 
Robert  Thompson,  was  a  partner  in  this  business.  When  the  firm  was 
burned  out  Dr.  Wakefield  erected  a  building  four  stories  high.  The  signs 
read  "Drugs  and  Medicines,  Wholesale  and  Retail",  and  the  building, 
springing  as  it  did  from  the  ashes,  came  to  be  known  as  old  Liberty  Hall, 
later  Phoenix  Hall.  It  was  in  one  story  of  this  that  many  public  meetings 
were  held,  including  the  speeches  of  Lincoln.  In  1856  Dr.  Wakefield  re- 
tired from  the  general  drug  business  and  gave  his  entire  attention  to 
his  own  medicines. 

Dr.  Cyrenius  Wakefield  was  for  years  a  prominent  member  of  the 
Bloomington  Benevolent  Society  to  which  cause  he  contributed  liberally 
in  strength  as  well  as  finances.  He  was  a  member  of  the  school  board 
and  took  much  interest  in  educational  affairs.  He  had  many  fire  losses  and 
losses  from  going  security  for  others,  and  yet  he  prospered  financially — 
building  a  handsome  stone  residence  where  the  high  school  building  now 
stands.  He  traveled  extensively  both  in  America  and  Europe.  Dr.  Wake- 
field helped  to  form  the  Republican  party  in  Bloomington,  Sept.  9,  1854. 
Abraham  Lincoln  was  often  a  friendly  guest  in  his  home  and  they  were 
greatly  attached  to  each  other.  Dr.  Wakefield  contracted  pneumonia 
while  personally  relieving  cases  of  destitution,  and  died  Feb.  20,  1885. 

Following  the  death  of  her  husband  (Albert  B.  Brady)  Dr.  Wake- 
field's daughter  Harriet  gave  up  her  home  in  New  York  and  returned  to 


410  History  of  McLean  County 

Bloomington,  where  she  is  well  known  and  highly  esteemed.  She  is  a 
member  of  the  Daughters  of  the  American  Revolution  and  active  in  the 
work  of  this  and  other  social  and  patriotic  organizations.  On  Lincoln's 
Birthday,  Feb.  12,  1924,  fitting  unveiling  services  were  held  on  the  oc- 
casion of  Mrs.  Brady's  presentation  of  a  bronze  tablet  at  the  entrance  of 
A.  Livingston  &  Sons  store — where  Lincoln  had  previously  ascended  the 
stairs  to  speak  at  Phoenix  Hall.  The  inscription  on  this  memorial  tablet 
is  as  follows: 

"This  Tablet 

Marks  the  site  of 

OLD  LIBERTY  HALL 

Later 

PHOENIX  HALL 

Where 

ABRAHAM     LINCOLN 

Made  a  Number  of  Speeches 

Placed  1924  by 

Harriet  Wakefield  Brady 

A  Member  of 

Letitia  Green  Stevenson  Chapter 

Daughters  of  the  American  Revolution 

In  memor}^  of  her  father 

DR.  C.  WAKEFIELD 

A  Friend  of  Abraham  Lincoln 

And  Owner  of  Phoenix  Hall 


Dr.  Franklin  Cady  Vandervort,  a  successful  physician  and  surgeon 
of  Bloomington,  is  a  native  of  Illinois.  He  was  born  at  Cedar  Point, 
LaSalle  County,  111.,  Aug.  5,  1858,  and  is  the  son  of  Dr.  I.  A.  and  Isabel 
(Noble)  Vandervort. 

Dr.  I.  A.  Vandervort  was  a  native  of  Clinton  County,  Ohio,  as  also 
was  his  wife.  He  was  educated  at  the  Medical  Institute  in  Cincinnati, 
Ohio,  and  was  a  commanding  figure  in  his  community,  where  he  prac- 
ticed medicine  for  30  years.  This  was  in  LaSalle  County,  111.  Dr.  Van- 
dervort was  also  interested  in  the  breeding  of  good  road  horses  and  was 


History  of  McLean  County  411 

successful  in  breeding  Shorthorn  cattle.  He  died  in  Bloomington,  Oct. 
30,  1901,  and  his  wife  died  Jan.  31,  1892.  They  were  the  parents  of  the 
following  children:  Charles  R.,  died  in  1911  while  principal  of  Greeley 
School  in  Peoria,  111. ;  Janie,  who  is  a  graduate  in  music ;  Mina,  married 
Rev.  George  A.  Miller.  She  died  in  Washington,  D.  C,  in  1910;  Dr.  F.  C, 
the  subject  of  this  sketch,  and  two  sons  who  died  in  infancy  at  Cedar 
Point,  111. 

Dr.  Franklin  Cady  Vandervort  grew  up  in  LaSalle  County,  111.,  and 
after  finishing  high  school  at  Tonica,  111.,  he  entered  Butler  University, 
Indianapolis,  Ind.,  and  was  graduated  from  Rush  Medical  College  on 
Feb.  22,  1881.  Dr.  Vandervort  then  returned  to  the  town  of  his  boy- 
hood, Tonica,  where  he  began  the  practice  of  his  profession.  In  1888  he 
came  to  Bloomington  to  carry  on  the  practice  of  Dr.  William  E.  Guthrie, 
who  was  taking  post  graduate  work  in  Germany  at  the  time.  In  the 
year  1906  Dr.  Vandervort  took  3  months  Post  Graduate  work  in  Lon- 
don, Eng.  Dr.  Vandervort  was  surgeon  for  the  Chicago  &  Alton  Railroad 
for  seven  years,  and  in  1893  was  appointed  district  surgeon  of  the  Illinois 
Central  Railroad,  in  which  capacity  he  still  serves. 

On  Sept.  3,  1884,  Dr.  Vandervort  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Hattie  Morehouse,  a  native  of  Bloomington,  Principal  of  3rd  Ward  School. 
She  died  April  10,  1899,  leaving  three  children,  as  follows:  Isabel  More- 
house, a  graduate  of  the  University  of  Illinois,  now  teaching  in  the  high 
school  at  Kenosha,  Wis. ;  Marion  Louise,  married  Harry  L.  Stubblefield, 
lives  at  516  E.  Locust  St.,  Bloomington,  and  Franklin  Cady,  Jr.,  a  mechan- 
ical engineer  associated  with  the  Johns-Manville  Company  in  Chicago.  Mrs. 
Vandervort  was  the  daughter  of  John  and  Jane  (Parmelee)  Morehouse, 
natives  of  New  York.  Mr.  Morehouse  died  in  1898  and  his  wife  died  in 
1908.  On  June  25,  1902,  Dr.  Vandervort  was  married  to  Miss  Olive 
Harrison,  a  daughter  of  Stephen  and  Elizabeth  Harrison  of  Granville, 
111.,  both  of  whom  are  deceased.  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Vandervort  were  married 
in  Cedar  Rapids,  Iowa,  at  the  home  of  Dr.  and  Mrs.  J.  M.  Restine. 

Dr.  Vandervort  is  a  Republican  and  a  member  of  the  Second  Pres- 
byterian Church.  He  has  served  as  health  officer  of  Bloomington,  county 
physician  and  president  of  the  city  school  board  for  two  years.  He 
belongs  to  the  Masonic  Lodge  and  the  Knights  of  Pythias.  Dr.  Vander- 
vort was  appointed  a  member  of  Southern  Illinois  Normal  School  Trustees 
by  Governor  Tanner  in  1899,  and  served  11  years,  the  last  three  as  presi- 


412  History  of  McLean  County 

dent  of  the  board.  He  has  served  as  president  of  the  McLean  County 
Medical  Society  for  three  years,  and  as  president  of  North  Central  Illinois 
Medical  Society  for  one  year.  He  also  belongs  to  the  Illinois  State  Society, 
the  American  Medical  Association,  and  the  American  Association  of 
Railway  Surgeons.  During  the  World  War  he  was  appointed  a 
surgeon  with  rank  of  Lieutenant  at  Student  Army  Training  Camp  of 
the  Illinois  Wesleyan  University.  He  is  a  trustee  of  the  public  library 
of  Bloomington  appointed  by  Mayor  Jones.  Dr.  Vandervort  is  a  sub- 
stantial citizen  of  McLean  County  and  a  progressive  man  in  his  profession. 


Dr.  Thomas  D.  Cantrell,  who  ranks  among  the  leading  physicians 
and  surgeons  of  Bloomington,  is  a  veteran  of  the  World  War.  He  was 
born  on  a  farm  near  Waynesville,  111.,  in  Dewitt  County,  Feb.  3,  1864,  and 
is  the  son  of  Zebulon  D.  and  Susan  (Foreman)  Cantrell. 

Zebulon  D.  Cantrell  was  a  native  of  Springfield,  111.,  and  when  he 
was  six  months  old  his  parents  moved  to  Waynesville,  where  he  was 
reared.  He  followed  general  farming  during  his  entire  life  and  met 
with  success.  In  1854  Zebulon  D.  Cantrell  and  his  father  rode  on  horse- 
back over  the  prairie  land  between  Waynesville  and  Clinton  and  returned 
home  satisfied  that  there  was  nothing  worth  entering  at  $1.25  per  acre 
and  that  people  could  only  live  in  the  timber  and  along  the  edge;  he 
afterward  paid  the  Illinois  Central  Railroad  Company  $17.00  per  acre 
for  his  first  80  acres. 

Mr.  Cantrell  died  May  16,  1897,  and  his  wife,  who  was  a  native  of 
Union  County,  Ohio,  died  March  14,  1915.  They  were  the  parents  of 
five  children,  as  follows:  Carmi  G.,  lives  at  Topeka,  Kan.;  Joanna  J., 
deceased;  Elmer  E.,  lives  at  Des  Moines,  la.;  Martha  Angeline  Lichten- 
berger,  lives  at  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  and  Dr.  Thomas  D.,  the  subject  of 
this  sketch. 

Dr.  Cantrell  spent  his  boyhood  on  his  father's  farm  near  Waynes- 
ville and  attended  the  district  schools.  He  attended  one  year  at  Illinois 
Wesleyan  University  and  graduated  at  Rush  Medical  College  in  Chicago 
in  1888.  Dr.  Cantrell  practiced  his  profession  as  a  general  practitioner 
until  1917,  when  he  was  commissioned  and  served  18  months  during  the 
World  war,  nine  months  of  which  were  spent  in  France,  in  command  of 


History  of  McLean  County  413 

the  X-Ray  Laboratory  of  Base  Hospital  No.  11.  Since  the  close  of  the 
war,  Dr.  Cantrell  has  specialized  in  X-ray  and  radium,  his  laboratory 
being  located  at  303  N.  East  Street,  Bloomington.  He  has  an  excellent 
practice  and  is  known  as  a  thoroughly  capable  man  in  his  profession. 

On  Aug.  31,  1887,  Dr.  Cantrell  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Marietta  Arnett,  a  native  of  Arrowsmith,  111.,  and  the  daughter  of  John 
D.  and  Mary  Margaret  (Hatch)  Arnett,  natives  of  Ohio.  Mr.  Arnett 
died  March  3,  1920,  and  his  wife  lives  at  Saybrook,  111.  To  Dr.  and  Mrs. 
Cantrell  two  children  were  born:  Leta  Fenn  Briggs,  lives  at  Minier,  111.; 
and  Leona  Fae,  born  Nov.  6,  1890,  and  died  Dec.  4,  1890. 

During  the  Spanish  American  War  Dr.  Cantrell  received  a  commis- 
sion but  was  not  called  into  active  service.  He  is  at  present  captain  of 
the  Medical  Reserve  Corps.  He  is  a  Republican,  a  member  of  the  Chris- 
tian Church,  and  a  32nd  degree  Mason.  Dr.  Cantrell  and  his  wife  are 
well  known  in  Bloomington  and  have  many  friends. 


George  H.  Miller,  a  well  known  architect  of  Bloomington,  has  been 
engaged  in  his  professional  work  for  52  years.  He  was  born  in  Bloom- 
ington, May  7,  1856,  the  son  of  John  George  and  Louisa  (Scherer)  Miller. 
They  were  natives  of  Wurtemburg,  Germany,  and  came  to  this  country 
in  1854  and  settled  on  a  farm  in  McLean  County.  They  were  the  parents 
of  eight  children,  six  sons  and  two  daughters.  Four  members  of  the 
family  are  now  living,  as  follows:  George  H.,  the  subject  of  this  sketch; 
William  B.,  who  is  engaged  in  the  grocery  business  in  Bloomington; 
Charles  L.,  a  jeweler  in  Bloomington,  and  Ida,  a  professional  nurse.  John 
M.  Miller,  one  of  the  brothers  who  is  now  deceased,  was  engaged  in  the 
drug  business  in  Bloomington  for  a  number  of  years. 

George  H.  Miller  was  reared  on  a  farm  to  the  age  of  11  years  and 
received  his  education  in  the  public  schools.  When  he  was  15  years  old 
he  entered  the  office  of  Richter  &  Bunting,  who  at  that  time  were  the 
only  architects  at  Bloomington.  Later,  Mr.  Richter  went  to  Indianapolis, 
Ind.,  where  he  achieved  fame  as  an  architect,  and  Mr.  Bunting  went  to 
Springfield,  111.,  and  became  state  architect.  In  1874  Mr.  Harris  went  to 
Columbus,  Ohio,  and  Mr.  Miller  went  with  him.  One  year  later  Mr. 
Miller  returned  to  Bloomington  and  joined  Henry  A.  Miner,  a  mill  con- 


414  History  of  McLean  County 

tractor,  and  remained  with  him  for  10  years.  In  1885  Mr.  Miller  en- 
gaged in  business  for  himself.  He  has  had  an  active  and  successful  busi- 
ness career  and  has  been  identified  with  the  construction  of  many  of  the 
important  buildings  of  Bloomington  and  other  towns  and  cities  in  Illi- 
nois. He  was  the  architect  of  the  Oberkoetter  building,  which  was  built 
in  1875  when  he  was  19  years  old.  He  was  also  architect  of  the  county 
jail  and  built  the  Corn  Belt  Bank  building,  the  Durley  building,  and  the 
Livingston  building,  and  superintended  the  construction  of  a  number  of 
other  buildings  in  Bloomington  as  well  as  buildings  in  Peoria,  Decatur, 
East  St.  Louis,  Ottawa,  and  a  number  of  other  places.  He  was  the  first 
to  introduce  the  modern  system  of  side  lighting  in  school  buildings.  This 
was  at  the  Normal  Training  School  building,  and  since  that  time  this 
system  has  become  in  general  use  over  the  country. 

In  1887  George  H.  Miller  was  married  to  Miss  Rose  Stautz,  a  daughter 
of  Jacob  and  Bibiana  Stautz,  early  pioneer  settlers  of  McLean  County, 
who  came  here  from  Germany  in  1853.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Miller  have 
been  born  three  children,  as  follows:  Kenneth  A.,  an  architect  of  Chi- 
cago; Raymond  Porter,  who  is  employed  in  the  Federal  Reserve  Bank  at 
Chicago,  and  Sallie,  who  resides  in  Bloomington  with  her  parents. 

The  Miller  family  are  members  of  the  Unitarian  Church.  Mr.  Miller 
is  a  member  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias  and  is  past  chancellor  of  his  lodge. 
He  has  served  as  alderman  and  is  one  of  the  substantial  and  highly 
respected  citizens  of  Bloomington  and  McLean  County. 


D.  W.  Snyder,  Jr.,  general  manager  of  the  Bloomington  &  Normal 
Division  of  the  Illinois  Power  &  Light  Corporation,  is  a  leading  citizen 
of  Bloomington.  He  was  born  at  Easton,  Pa.,  March  24,  1885,  the  son 
of  Chester  and  Amanda  (Barron)  Snyder. 

Chester  Snyder  is  a  native  of  Easton,  Pa.,  and  his  wife  was  born 
at  Bethlehem,  Pa.  They  have  resided  at  Easton  for  many  years,  where 
Mr.  Snyder  is  president  of  the  First  National  Bank.  Besides  D.  W.,  Jr., 
the  subject  of  this  sketch,  there  is  another  son,  Edward  C,  who  resides 
at  Easton. 

D.  W.  Snyder,  Jr.,  was  reared  in  Easton,  Pa.,  and  after  finishing  the 
high  school  course  there  was  graduated  from  Lafayette  College.     The 


History  of  McLean  County  415 

outline  of  his  business  career  is  as  follows:  1907,  employed  in  the  shops 
of  the  Westinghouse  Electric  &  Manufacturing  Company  at  Pittsburgh, 
Pa. ;  1908,  employed  in  the  shops  of  the  same  company  at  Newark,  N.  J., 
sales  engineer  of  the  arc  lamp  department,  and  construction  engineer  for 
the  M.  A.  Maswell  Consulting  Engineers  of  Boston,  Mass. ;  1909,  general 
superintendent  of  the  Northampton  Traction  Company,  Easton,  Pa. ;  1910, 
general  manager  of  the  Clinton  Gas  &  Electric  Company  of  Clinton,  111. ; 
1914,  general  superintendent  of  the  Jefferson  City  Light,  Heat  &  Power 
Company  of  Jefferson  City,  Mo.,  and  also  superintendent  of  the  Jefferson 
City  Bridge  &  Transit  Company.  Since  1916  Mr.  Snyder  has  served  as 
general  manager  of  the  Bloomington  &  Normal  Division  of  the  Illinois 
Power  &  Light  Corporation.  He  is  also  vice  president  of  the  Lincoln 
Water  &  Light  Company  of  Lincoln,  111. 

On  November  8,  1911,  Mr.  Snyder  was  united  in  marriage  at  Cape 
Girardeau,  Mo.,  with  Miss  Lenora  Ethel  Gramling,  a  native  of  Dryers- 
burg,  Tenn.,  and  the  daughter  of  E.  G.  and  Tennie  (Gordon)  Gramling, 
the  former  a  native  of  Arkansas,  and  the  latter  of  Tennessee.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Gramling  now  reside  at  Cape  Girardeau,  Mo.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Snyder  two  children  have  been  born,  Chester  and  Mary  Gordon  Snyder. 

Mr.  Snyder  is  a  Republican  and  is  affiliated  with  the  following  lodges 
and  clubs:  Masons,  Elks,  Rotary,  Consistory,  D.  K.  E.,  Young  Men's 
Glub,  Bloomington  Club,  and  the  Bloomington  Country  Club.  He  is  at 
present  president  of  the  Illinois  State  Electric  Association,  vice  president 
of  the  Union  Building  &  Loan  Association,  director  of  the  Bloomington 
Association  of  Commerce,  and  trustee  of  the  Illinois  Wesleyan  Univer- 
sity. Mr.  Snyder  is  one  of  the  progressive  citizens  of  the  county  and  is 
well  and  favorably  known. 


Miss  Leta  C.  Davis,  assistant  state  secretary  of  the  Illinois  Christian 
Missionary  Society,  is  a  native  of  Illinois.  She  was  born  near  Redmon,  in 
Edgar  County,  Sept.  23,  1892,  and  is  a  daughter  of  Samuel  H.  and  Alice 
(Jones)  Davis. 

Samuel  H.  Davis  was  born  in  Washington  County,  Pa.,  and  followed 
farming  during  his  life.  He  died  June  13,  1893.  Mrs.  Davis,  who  was 
born  near  Crawfordsville,  Ind.,  now  resides  in  Bloomington  with  her  two 


416  History  of  McLean  County 

daughters,  Leta  C,  and  Day.  Their  home  is  at  1020  East  Front  street. 
The  only  son  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Davis,  Harlan,  died  in  infancy. 

Miss  Davis  lived  in  Paris,  111.,  until  1916.  After  finishing  high  school 
at  16  years  of  age  there,  she  became  secretary  to  the  superintendent  of 
Paris  city  schools.  Her  next  position  was  as  secretary  to  the  county 
superintendent  of  schools  in  Edgar  county.  After  holding  a  position  as 
bookkeeper  in  a  building  and  loan  office,  she  was  appointed  assistant  state 
secretary  of  the  Illinois  Christian  Missionary  Society,  which  position 
she  has  held  for  the  past  eight  years.  Miss  Davis  is  also  state  super- 
intendent of  Christian  Endeavor  for  the  Disciples  of  Christ. 

Miss  Davis  is  a  member  of  the  Christian  Church  (Disciples  of  Christ). 
She  is  an  energetic  young  woman  with  a  large  circle  of  friends. 


John  R.  Smith. — Farming,  blacksmithing,  banking  and  merchandizing 
constitute  the  scale  of  activities  which  lifted  the  name  of  John  R.  Smith 
to  enviable  prominence  and  influence  in  the  city  of  Bloomington.  Mr. 
Smith  is  a  man  of  varied  capacity  and  unusual  resource.  His  ideals  in 
business  and  general  life  were  on  the  ascending  scale,  else  he  had  always 
followed  the  plow  or  wielded  the  hammer  and  anvil.  Born  in  Madison 
County,  Ky.,  Jan.  14,  1820,  his  early  influences  were  inspiring,  for  his 
parents,  Jacob  and  Eliza  (Porter)  Smith,  natives  of  Philadelphia  and 
Kentucky  respectively,  were  successful  people,  and  upon  taking  up  their 
residence  in  Bloomington  in  1851,  invested  heavily  in  farm  lands,  the  su- 
pervision of  which  occupied  the  time  of  the  elder  Smith  for  the  balance 
of  his  active  life.  He  died  Aug.  18,  1874,  and  his  wife,  March  13,  1875, 
both  being  83  years  old  at  the  time  of  death. 

John  R.  Smith  was  reared  on  a  Kentucky  farm  and  profited  by  the 
best  training  to  be  found  in  the  country  school.  In  early  manhood  he 
learned  the  blacksmith's  trade,  and  upon  this  basis  of  support,  he  estab- 
lished a  home  of  his  own  in  Madison  County,  Ky.,  marrying  Charlotte  P. 
Fox,  who  was  born  in  Madison  County,  Oct.  30,  1826.  Mr.  Smith  and  his 
wife  accompanied  his  father  to  Bloomington  in  1851,  and  here  he  found 
a  lucrative  field  for  his  trade,  which  he  followed  in  a  well  patronized  little 
shop  for  several  years.  He  then  became  one  of  the  chief  organizers  and 
for  ten  years  was  president  of  the  McLean  County  Bank,  an  occupation 


JOHN    R.    SMITH. 


Of   (HE. 


History  of  McLean  County  417 

which  he  was  obliged  to  abandon  owing  to  the  close  confinement  which 
seriously  undermined  his  health.  In  a  boot  and  shoe  establishment  which 
he  opened  he  found  the  variety  and  change  required  for  regaining  his 
health,  and  he  was  thus  employed  until  a  few  years  before  his  death, 
April  23,  1886. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Smith  were  born  three  children:  Mary  E.,  who  mar- 
ried first  Homer  McLean,  who  died  Dec.  13,  1869,  and  who  later  married 
D.  C.  Carmichael,  who  died  Nov.  14,  1883.  He  was  in  the  civil  service  as 
mail  operator  with  the  Chicago  &  Alton  Railroad  and  later  in  the  shoe 
business.  She  has  a  daughter,  Charlotta,  the  wife  of  Charles  T.  Stevenson ; 
Nannie  B.,  the  widow  of  James  Challis,  lives  with  her  sister,  Mrs.  Car- 
michael; and  I.  D.  Smith,  deceased. 

Mr.  Smith  was  one  of  the  best  known  men  in  Bloomington  and  no 
figure  was  more  familiar  upon  the  streets  of  the  city.  He  had  a  fine  nature 
and  noble  ideals,  and  these  were  reflected  in  the  expression  of  his  face,  in 
the  clasp  of  his  hand,  and  the  genuine  sympathy  and  good  fellowship 
which  seemed  always  to  dominate  his  immediate  environment. 


Harry  H.  Peters,  state  secretary  of  the  Illinois  Christian  Missionary 
Society,  is  a  widely  known  citizen  of  McLean  County.  He  was  born 
near  Lancaster,  in  Lawrence  County,  111.,  July  9,  1871,  the  son  of  Robert 
and  Loretta  (Sapp)  Peters. 

Robert  Peters  was  a  native  of  Lawrence  County,  111.,  and  his  wife 
was  born  near  Mt.  Carmel,  in  Wabash  County,  111.  Mr.  Peters  was  a 
school  teacher  in  the  early  days,  and  died  in  1915.  His  wife  lives  at 
Indianapolis,  Ind.  They  were  the  parents  of  the  following  chidren:  Mrs. 
Christ  Lmdeman,  Robert  H.  Peters,  and  James  E.  Peters,  who  lives  at 
Glendale,  Cal. ;  H.  C,  lives  at  Evansville,  Ind. ;  Mrs.  Richard  Lord,  lives 
at  Glendale,  Cal. ;  Mrs.  Russell  Peed,  lives  in  Indianapolis,  Ind. ;  Mrs.  Meade 
Powell  lives  at  Indianapolis,  Ind. ;  John  W.,  lives  at  Evansville,  Ind. ; 
H.  H.,  the  subject  of  this  sketch;  Rosa  May,  deceased,  and  three  daugh- 
ters who  died  in  infancy. 

H.  H.  Peters  lived  in  southern  Illinois  until  he  was  25  years  of  age, 
and  is  a  graduate  of  Eureka  College.  After  teaching  school  for  three 
years,  Mr.  Peters  entered  the  ministry.  After  serving  as  pastor  for  12 
(25) 


418  History  of  McLean  County 

years,  he  served  as  Endowment  Secretary  of  Eureka  College  five  years, 
pastor  of  the  Paris  Christian  Church  for  four  years,  and  has  been  State 
Secretary  of  the  Illinois  Christian  Missionary  Society  for  nearly  eight 
years. 

On  Nov.  5,  1892,  Mr.  Peters  was  married  to  Miss  Minnie  E.  Rigg,  a 
native  of  Bellmont,  111.,  and  the  daughter  of  John  Mac  and  Mary  Jane 
(Ballard)  Rigg,  natives  of  Illinois,  both  of  whom  are  deceased.  To  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Peters  two  daughters  were  born:  Mrs.  Mary  Loretta  Cleaver, 
whose  husband  is  a  process  engineer  with  the  Remy  Electric  Company, 
Anderson,  Ind.,  and  Mrs.  Ruth  Jane  Risser,  whose  husband  is  an  elec- 
trical engineer  with  the  Westinghouse  Company,  Pittsburgh,  Pa. 

Mr.  Peters  is  a  Democrat  and  belongs  to  the  Independent  Order  of 
Odd  Fellows  and  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America.  He  and  his  wife  are 
members  of  the  Christian  Church  (Disciples  of  Christ)  and  are  highly 
respected  members  of  their  community. 


Leroy  G.  Whitmer,  president  of  the  American  Foundry  and  Furnace 
Company  of  Bloomington,  is  a  member  of  one  of  McLean  County's  promi- 
nent pioneer  families.  He  was  born  at  Bloomington,  July  15,  1871,  and  is 
the  son  of  Peter  and  Lucy  (McDonald)  Whitmer. 

Peter  Whitmer,  a  leading  business  man  of  Bloomington  for  many  , 
years,  was  born  at  Chambersburg,  Pa.,  Feb.  22,  1828,  the  son  of  Peter  and 
Mary  (Hess)  Whitmer,  the  former  born  Nov.  27,  1775,  in  the  same  house 
which  was  the  birthplace  of  his  son  and  in  which  he  lived  all  his  life,  dying 
there  Sept.  8,  1852.  Mary  (Hess)  Whitmer  was  a  native  of  Cumberland 
County,  Pa.,  born  April  2,  1799,  and  she  died  March  4,  1842. 

Peter  Whitmer  was  educated  in  the  country  schools  of  Pennsylvania 
and  learned  the  harness  making  and  saddlery  trades.  In  April,  1852,  he 
came  west  and  located  at  Bloomington,  111.,  where  he  established  himself 
in  the  saddlery  and  harness  making  business,  under  the  firm  name  of 
Moore  &  Whitmer.  The  business  was  located  at  the  corner  of  Wash- 
ington and  Center  streets,  the  present  site  of  the  Peoples  Bank. 
Mr.  Whitmer  later  sold  his  business  and  engaged  in  the  grocery  business 
on  Center  Street  for  three  years.  He  then  became  interested  in  the  lum- 
ber business  in  Bloomington,  to  which  he  devoted  his  time  for  17  years. 
On  Jan.  10,  1875,  he  sold  his  business  and  accepted  the  presidency  of  the 


History  of  McLean  County  419 

Peoples  Bank,  and  for  30  years  remained  at  its  head.  He  was  also  one  of 
the  organizers  of  the  Bloomington  Canning  Company,  which  was  organ- 
ized in  1888,  and  later  was  very  active  in  that  industry.  Peter  Whitmer 
and  wife  were  the  parents  of  the  following  children:  Mrs.  Dr.  A.  Hooper, 
lives  at  Pasadena,  Cal. ;  Charles  C,  an  invalid,  lives  at  Godfrey,  111. ;  Mrs. 
J.  0.  Willson,  611  North  East  Street,  Bloomington;  Mrs.  H.  C.  Hawk, 
Battle  Creek,  Mich. ;  Ira  S.,  President  Bloomington  Canning  Company  at 
Bloomington,  and  Leroy  G.,  the  subject  of  this  sketch. 

Leroy  G.  Whitmer  received  his  education  in  the  public  schools  at 
Bloomington  and  was  graduated  from  Eureka  College  in  1890,  and  in  1894 
from  the  law  department  of  Illinois  Wesleyan  University.  He  began  his 
business  career  as  a  bank  clerk  and  practiced  law  in  Bloomington  from 
July  1,  1894,  to  July  1,  1900.  On  that  date  he  was  elected  vice-president 
of  The  American  Foundry  &  Furnace  Company,  which  office  he  held  for 
16  years.  In  January,  1916,  he  was  elected  president  and  treasurer  of 
the  company,  which  office  he  now  holds. 

On  April  30,  1896,  Mr.  Whitmer  was  married  to  Miss  Mildred  E. 
Murphy,  a  native  of  Fort  WTayne,  Ind.,  and  a  daughter  of  Robert  W.  and 
Mary  A.  (Dixon)  Murphy,  the  former  a  native  of  New  York,  the  latter 
of  Wisconsin.  Mr.  Murphy  died  in  1917  and  his  wife  died  three  years 
later.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Whitmer  have  been  born  two  children,  as  fol- 
lows: Robert  P.,  associated  with  the  management  of  the  American  Foun- 
dry &  Furnace  Company,  lives  at  home,  and  Mildred  F.,  a  student  at 
Smith  College,  Northampton,  Mass. 

Mr.  Whitmer  is  a  Republican  but  has  never  held  office.  He  and  his 
wife  are  members  of  the  First  Christian  Church  of  Bloomington,  and  are 
both  active  in  the  social  life  of  the  city.  Mr.  Whitmer  served  as  presi- 
dent of  the  Association  of  Commerce  during  1921  and  1922.  He  is  a 
substantial  member  of  the  community  and  a  highly  esteemed  citizen. 


H.  Bert  Patton,  manager  and  secretary  of  the  Bloomington  Produce 
Company,  has  been  identified  with  the  business  development  of  Bloom- 
ington for  over  a  third  of  a  century.  He  was  born  in  Carroll  County, 
Ind.,  April  10,  1867,  the  son  of  Hezekiah  and  Elizabeth  (Schock)  Patton. 

Hezekiah  Patton  was  a  native  of  Maryland  and  his  wife  was  born 
in  Indiana.    He  came  to  Indiana  when  14  years  of  age  in  1835.     In  1850 


420  History  of  McLean  County 

he  went  to  California,  where  he  spent  two  years.  He  made  the  trip 
overland  and  returned  by  water  and  the  Isthmus  of  Panama.  Mr.  Patton 
died  in  Indiana  in  1901  and  his  wife  died  in  1915.  There  were  three 
children:  H.  Bert,  the  subject  of  this  sketch;  John  A.,  lives  at  Wichita 
Falls,  Texas,  and  Emma,  who  died  in  1918,  was  the  wife  of  Perry  Million, 
of  Monticello,  Ind. 

H.  Bert  Patton  was  reared  on  a  farm  and  educated  in  the  public 
schools  and  Northern  Indiana  Normal  School  at  Valparaiso,  Ind.  He 
then  engaged  in  teaching  for  a  time,  and  later  became  interested  in  the 
poultry  and  egg  business  at  Goodland,  Ind.,  in  1888.  In  1890  he  came 
to  Bloomington  and  engaged  in  the  same  business,  locating  the  following 
year  at  his  present  location,  512-514  South  Main  Street.  Mr.  Patton 
began  business  under  the  firm  name  of  Patton  Bros.,  with  his  brother  who 
now  resides  at  Wichita  Falls,  Texas.  In  1907  the  company  was  incor- 
porated under  the  present  name. 

The  Bloomington  Produce  Company  started  in  a  very  small  way 
and  has  grown  to  one  of  the  largest  shipping  businesses  in  the  country. 
In  1923  the  business  amounted  to  two  million  dollars.  The  supplies  are 
drawn  from  local  buying  and  car  lot  business  from  other  states  and  the 
outlet  markets  are  in  the  east,  New  York,  Boston,  Philadelphia,  and  con- 
tributing markets.  The  company  is  capitalized  at  $60,000.  The  officers 
are :  Charles  F.  J.  Agle,  president ;  Egbert  B.  Hawk,  vice  president ;  Henry 
Gilberts,  treasurer,  and  H.  Bert  Patton,  manager  and  secretary.  The 
Bloomington  Produce  Company  buys  and  sells  produce  all  over  and  is 
the  only  institution  of  the  kind  in  Bloomington. 

H.  Bert  Patton  was  married  on  March  27,  1890,  to  Miss  Nellie  E. 
Gilman,  of  Goodland,  Ind.,  and  the  daughter  of  William  W.  and  Nellie 
(Morse)  Gilman,  natives  of  New  York.  At  an  early  date  Mr.  Gilmar 
went  west  to  Minnesota  and  later  came  to  Illinois,  and  finally  located  at 
Goodland,  Ind.,  where  he  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life.  He  was  promi- 
nent in  politics  and  served  in  the  legislature  and  also  the  senate  of 
Indiana.  He  was  a  Republican.  Mr.  Gilman  died  in  1912  and  his  wife 
died  in  1920.  Mrs.  Patton  is  one  of  six  children  living,  as  follows:  Minnie, 
married  Milton  Wertsbaugh,  now  deceased,  and  she  resides  at  York, 
Nebr. ;  William,  lives  at  Goodland,  Ind. ;  Jessie,  married  Frank  Hitt,  lives 
in  Chicago;  Fred,  deceased;  Carrie,  married  Dr.  O.  H.  Mohney,  lives  at 
Goodland,  Ind.;  and  George,  who  lives  in  Chicago.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Patton  three  children  were  born:   Owen  B.,   assistant  manager  of  the 


History  of  McLean  County  421 

Bloomington  Produce  Company;   Feme,   resides   in   Chicago,   where   she 
is  interested  in  musical  work,  and  Crystal  Pearl,  a  high  school  student. 

Mr.  Patton  is  a  Republican,  a  member  of  the  First  Christian  Church, 
and  belongs  to  the  Kiwanis  Club  and  the  Y.  M.  C.  A.,  being  a  director  of 
Y.  M.  C.  A.  Board,  chairman  of  board  of  directors  of  Home  Sweet  Home 
Mission  of  Bloomington,  and  interested  in  all  church  and  community  work 
for  public  good. 


Dr.  Paul  E.  Greenleaf,  a  successful  physician  engaged  in  the  practice 
of  his  profession  with  offices  at  220 14  North  Center  street,  Bloomington, 
111.,  is  a  native  of  Indiana.  He  was  born  at  Markland,  Ind.,  Nov.  12,  1885, 
a  son  of  Dr.  Hannibal  A.,  and  Mary  A.  (Strain)  Greenleaf,  the  former  a 
native  of  Nathez,  Miss.,  and  the  latter  of  Cincinnati,  Ohio.  The  father 
now  resides  at  Jeffersonville,  Ind.,  and  the  mother  died  in  May,  1919,  and 
is  buried  at  Vevay,  Ind.  Dr.  Hannibal  A.  Greenleaf  was  a  capable  physi- 
cian and  surgeon  and  was  engaged  in  the  practice  for  many  years.  He 
is  now  living  retired. 

Dr.  Paul  E.  Greenleaf  was  one  of  four  children  born  to  his  parents, 
as  follows :  Mrs.  Grace  Pell,  Louisville,  Ky. ;  Carroll  Greenleaf,  Charlotte, 
N.  C. ;  Joseph  Greenleaf,  Waco,  Texas,  and  Dr.  Paul  E.  Greenleaf,  the 
subject  of  this  sketch. 

Dr.  Greenleaf  was  reared  at  Markland,  Switzerland  County,  Ind.,  and 
received  his  education  in  the  common  and  the  high  schools  at  Vevay, 
Ind.,  and  Valparaiso  University,  Valparaiso,  Ind.  He  taught  school  for 
three  years.  He  then  entered  the  medical  department  of  the  University 
of  Louisville,  at  Louisville,  Ky.,  where  he  was  graduated  with  the  degree 
of  Doctor  of  Medicine.  After  serving  a  hospital  interneship  at  St.  Mary 
and  Elizabeth  Hospital,  at  Louisville,  Ky.,  he  came  to  McLean  County  and 
engaged  in  the  practice  of  his  profession  at  Lexington.  Three  years 
later  he  located  in  Bloomington  where  he  has  built  up  a  large  practice. 

When  the  United  States  entered  the  World  war,  Dr.  Greenleaf  was 
among  the  first  to  offer  his  services  to  the  government.  He  was  com- 
missioned first  lieutenant  on  May  11,  1918,  and  left  Bloomington,  June 
13,  1918,  upon  receiving  a  call  to  the  service.  His  first  orders  sent  him  to 
the  Rockefeller  Institute  for  Medical  Research  in  New  York  City  where 
he  was  given  special  instruction  in  the  Carrel-Dakin  method  of  the  treat- 


422  History  of  McLean  County 

ment  of  infected  wounds.  Upon  completion  of  this  course  he  was  ordered 
to  report  for  temporary  duty  at  Base  Hospital  at  Camp  Gordon,  Ga.,  near 
Atlanta.  He  remained  there  during  July  and  August  and  was  then 
ordered  to  leave  Camp  Gordon  and  proceed  to  the  Medical  Officers  Train- 
ing Camp  at  Camp  Greenleaf,  Ga.,  for  a  course  in  military  training 
and  military  surgery.  After  two  months  at  Camp  Greenleaf  he  was 
ordered  to  Bellevue  Hospital,  New  York  City,  for  a  special  course  in  the 
treatment  of  fractures  and  war  injuries.  This  course  was  intended  for 
men  who  were  to  be  sent  overseas  for  taking  care  of  the  wounded  in 
base  hospitals.  His  final  period  of  duty  was  at  Camp  Meade,  Md.,  where 
he  was  stationed  at  the  base  hospital  where  the  formation  of  a  base 
hospital  was  being  made  for  overseas  duty.  Just  when  his  unit  was 
completed  and  all  the  members  were  in  readiness  to  go  to  France,  the 
armistice  was  signed  and  the  orders  to  sail  were  countermanded.  Dr. 
Greenleaf,  however,  was  kept  in  active  service  until  January,  1919,  when 
he  received  his  discharge  and  resumed  his  practice  in  Bloomington. 

Dr.  Greenleaf  was  married  at  Bloomington,  June  16,  1915,  to  Miss 
Julia  E.  O'Neil,  a  native  of  Bloomington,  and  a  daughter  of  Daniel  M. 
and  Joan  (Pyne)  O'Neil,  natives  of  Ireland  and  both  now  deceased.  The 
mother  died  in  February,  1914,  and  the  father  in  February,  1922.  To  Dr. 
and  Mrs.  Greenleaf  has  been  born  one  child,  Paul  Anthony  Greenleaf,  born 
Jan.  26,  1920. 

Dr.  Greenleaf  is  a  Republican  and  a  member  of  the  Catholic  Church. 
His  lodge  affiliations  are  with  the  Knights  of  Columbus,  Woodmen  of  the 
World  and  the  Court  of  Honor.  Dr.  Greenleaf  has  an  extensive  acquaint- 
ance in  Bloomington  and  McLean  County  and  is  held  in  the  highest  esteem. 


James  William  Parker. — The  firm  of  Parker  Bros.,  of  Bloomington, 
are  establishers  and  promoters  of  one  of  the  largest  lumber  and  coal 
enterprises  in  McLean  County. 

James  William  Parker  was  born  in  Nicholas  County,  Ky.,  Sept.  18, 
1844,  the  son  of  John  and  Nancy  (Talbot)  Parker.  John  Parker  was  a 
native  of  Virginia,  born  in  1808,  and  his  wife  was  born  in  Bourbon  County, 
Ky.,  in  1814.  Mr.  Parker  was  educated  in  Virginia  and  when  a  young 
man  moved  to  Kentucky  with  his  parents,  where  he  followed  farming  the 
remainder  of  his  life.     He  died  in  1849  and  his  wife  died  Jan.  19,  1860. 


History  of  McLean  County  423 

They  are  buried  at  Carlisle,  Ky.  There  were  seven  children  in  the  Parker 
family,  as  follows :  Sarah  Jane,  married  W.  W.  Talbert ;  Thomas,  a  mem- 
ber of  the  firm  of  Parker  Bros.,  lives  at  804  East  Grove  St. ;  George  Luther, 
lives  at  711  East  Grove  St.;  James  William,  the  subject  of  this  sketch; 
Elizabeth  Mary ;  Emma,  married  I.  M.  Chism,  and  John  T.  Parker  died  in 
1877. 

James  William  Parker  lived  in  Nicholas  County,  Ky.,  until  he  was 
five  years  old,  when  his  parents  moved  to  Bourbon  County.  He  received 
his  education  in  the  common  schools  and  attended  Kentucky  Wesleyan 
University  and  a  business  college  in  Covington,  Ky.  He  began  life  as  a 
farmer.  The  first  member  of  the  family  to  respond  to  the  local  lumber 
need  was  George  Luther  Parker,  who  arrived  in  Bloomington  in  1866. 
Two  years  later  he,  with  others,  purchased  the  Horace  McCurdy  Lumber 
business  and  operated  it  under  the  name  of  Parker,  Means  &  Scott.  Means 
retired  during  the  first  year  and  in  1870,  after  working  for  the  company 
for  two  years,  James  William  and  Thomas  Parker  purchased  an  interest 
in  the  business.  Since  that  time  the  firm  has  been  known  as  Parker 
Bros.  The  firm  remained  intact  until  1904  when  Thomas  Parker  resigned, 
his  place  being  taken  by  George  W.  Parker,  a  son  of  James  W.  Parker. 
This  partnership  continued  until  June  1,  1922,  when  George  Luther 
Parker  retired,  selling  out  his  interest  to  the  other  partners,  who  now 
constitute  the  firm  of  Parker  Bros.  The  place  of  business  is  at  923  East 
Grove  Street,  where  ample  buildings,  sheds,  and  general  facilities'  are 
provided  for  conducting  the  trade  with  method  and  dispatch.  In  the  early 
history  of  the  firm  of  Parker  Bros.,  before  the  building  of  the  Big  Four 
and  Lake  Erie  Railroads,  lumber  was  hauled  from  their  yards  as  far  as 
Ford  County,  111.  Most  of  the  lumber  at  that  time  came  from  Michigan 
and  Wisconsin  by  way  of  Chicago. 

On  Nov.  17,  1874,  James  William  Parker  was  married  in  Bloomington 
to  Miss  Rosanna  C.  Weith,  a  native  of  Peoria  County,  111.,  and  a  daughter 
Of  George  and  Elizabeth  (Walters)  Weith.  Mr.  Weith  was  born  in  Hes- 
sedarmstadt,  Germany,  and  came  to  the  United  States  as  a  young  man. 
His  wife  was  born  in  Switzerland  and  came  to  this  country  with  her 
parents  in  childhood.  He  died  in  1851  and  his  wife  died  in  1862.  To 
James  William  and  Rosanna  C.  (Weith)  Parker  six  children  have  been 
born  as  follows:  George  Weith,  lives  at  1015  East  Grove  Street,  and  is 
associated  in  business  with  his  father;  Nancy  Maud,  married  Raymond 
D.  Dooley,  lives  at  614  East  Walnut  Street;  Elizabeth  Grace,  a  teacher 


424  History  of  McLean  County 

in  Bloomington  High  School,  lives  at  803  East  Front  St. ;  Christina  Ella, 
married  Henry  L.  Carter,  lives  at  Carlisle,  Ky. ;  Emma  Ruth,  married 
Charles  J.  Robinson,  lives  at  Des  Moines,  Iowa;  and  Mary  Alice,  at  home. 
Mr.  Parker  is  a  member  of  the  Baptist  Church  and  the  Independent 
Order  of  Odd  Fellows.  He  lives  at  803  East  Front  Street.  Mr.  Parker  is 
a  reliable  business  man,  one  of  the  substantial  citizens  of  his  community 
and  the  Parker  family  ranks  among  the  leading  families  of  McLean 
County. 


Thomas  Ellis  Champion  is  a  well  known  retired  business  man  of  Nor- 
mal. He  was  born  in  Bristol,  England,  March  5,  1843,  the  son  of  George 
and  Eleanor  (Ellis)  Champion. 

George  Champion  was  a  native  of  England,  as  also  was  his  wife.  He 
died  in  1843  on  the  coast  of  Africa  and  11  years  later  his  wife  brought 
her  three  children  to  the  United  States  and  settled  in  Kane  County,  111. 
There  were  three  children,  as  follows:  Thomas  Ellis,  the  subject  of  this 
sketch ;  George,  a  retired  merchant  of  Normal,  a  sketch  of  whom  also 
appears  in  this  volume;  and  Miss  Athaliah,  who  lives  with  her  brother, 
George. 

Thomas  Ellis  Champion  was  11  years  of  age  when  his  mother  brought 
him  to  this  country  and  he  received  his  education  in  the  district  schools 
of  Kane  County,  111.  After  finishing  his  school  work,  Mr.  Champion  was 
employed  by  D.  F.  Barkley  of  Elgin,  111.,  where  he  learned  the  tinner's 
trade,  and  received  $30.00  per  year  for  his  services.  In  1864  he  went  to 
Waukegan,  III,  and  worked  in  a  tin  shop  there  for  three  years,  after 
which  time  he  came  to  Normal  and  opened  a  hardware  and  tin  shop  with 
his  brother,  George.  Mr.  Champion  later  sold  his  interest  to  his  brother 
and  then  opened  a  canning  factory  at  Normal,  which  he  successfully  con- 
ducted for  56  years.  The  factory  is  located  on  East  Ash  Street,  adjoining 
the  Champion  home.  In  1919  Mr.  Champion  sold  his  factory  and  since 
that  time  has  lived  retired. 

On  May  5,  1866,  Mr.  Champion  was  married  to  Miss  Fannie  Hopkin- 
son, a  native  of  Waukegan,  111.,  born  in  1850,  and  the  daughter  of  Isaac 
and  Pulcheria  (Davis)  Hopkinson.  Mr.  Hopkinson  was  a  prominent  at- 
torney at  Waukegan  for  a  number  of  years.  Mrs.  Champion  died  May  13, 
1906,  leaving  six  children,  as  follows :     Grace,  deceased ;  Trevor,  lives  at 


I 


THOMAS   E.    CI  TAMPION. 


OF  THE 


History  of  McLean  County  425 

Chicago  and  has  three  children,  Beatrice,  Ellsworth  and  Catherine;  Elea- 
nor, married  Bert  G.  Finch,  lives  in  Oklahoma  City,  Okla. ;  Ethel  Louisa, 
married  L.  R.  Manning,  lives  at  Normal,  and  has  one  child,  Hortence 
Clark ;  Jacquelin,  married  Bert  Kuss,  lives  at  Gary,  Ind. ;  and  Blanche,  the 
widow  of  Edwin  Iehl,  lives  at  Long  Beach,  Calif. 

Thomas  Ellis  Champion  is  an  independent  voter  and  he  is  a  member 
of  the  Methodist  Church.  He  is  a  man  who  is  highly  esteemed  in  his 
community  and  he  is  a  valued  citizen. 


Dr.  Arthur  E.  Rogers,  who  has  practiced  his  profession  for  over  25 
years  with  honor  and  exceptional  ability,  is  a  veteran  of  the  World  War 
and  one  of  Bloomington's  broadminded  and  public  spirited  citizens.  He 
was  born  at  Covell,  111.,  in  1870,  the  son  of  Thomas  A.  and  Isabella  M. 
(Shade)  Rogers. 

Thomas  A.  Rogers  and  his  wife  were  natives  of  Lancaster,  Pa.,  and 
early  settlers  of  Covell,  111.,  where  Mr.  Rogers  owned  and  operated  400 
acres  of  farm  land.  He  held  public  offices  and  was  supervisor  at  the  time 
of  his  death  in  1892,  which  was  caused  by  a  runaway  accident.  His  wife 
died  in  1921.  They  were  the  parents  of  five  children,  as  follows:  Mary 
B.  Hoover,  died  Dec.  19,  1923;  Maggie  J.,  deceased;  Rev.  S.  A.  D.  Rogers, 
deceased;  Nettie  E.  Mitchell,  lives  at  Bloomington;  and  Dr.  Arthur  E., 
the  subject  of  this  sketch. 

Dr.  Arthur  E.  Rogers  received  his  early  schooling  in  the  schools  of 
Covell  and  Bloomington,  and  Illinois  Wesleyan  University.  After  teach- 
ing school  for  two  years  he  entered  Louisville  Medical  College  in  1894, 
but  the  following  year  went  to  Rush  Medical  College  at  Chicago,  from 
which  he  was  graduated  in  1897.  He  immediately  entered  Dr.  Godfrey's 
office  at  Bloomington,  where  he  remained  until  the  fall  of  1897,  when  a 
partnership  was  entered  into  with  Dr.  D.  H.  Nusbaum,  which  lasted  until 
1900,  the  time  of  the  big  fire  in  Bloomington  which  destroyed  their  offices 
and  equipment.  Dr.  Rogers  then  practiced  his  profession  in  the  Greis- 
heim  building  and  later  in  the  Peoples  Bank  building  at  Bloomington.  In 
the  fall  of  1908  he  took  post  graduate  work  in  eye,  ear,  throat  and  nose 
work  at  London  and  Berlin,  and  on  his  return  specialized  in  that  line  of 
work  until  the  time  of  the  World  War  in  1917.  He  entered  service  at 
Fort  Riley,  Kan.,  as  a  specialist  in  the  X-ray  department  and  was  as- 


426  History  of  McLean  County 

signed  to  Evacuation  Hospital  No.  16  at  Camp  Meade,  Md.,  and  later  sent 
to  France.  He  assisted  in  caring  for  the  wounded  during  the  battle  of 
St.  Mihiel  and  the  Argonne  campaign,  being  located  near  Verdun.  After 
the  close  of  the  war  his  organization  was  sent  to  Coblenz,  Germany,  in 
charge  of  the  main  hospital  there.  At  the  time  of  his  discharge  in  1919 
he  held  the  rank  of  Major.  He  again  took  up  the  practice  of  medicine 
at  Bloomington  as  an  X-ray  and  skin  specialist.  He  is  now  serving  as 
member  of  Pension  Board  for  McLean  County. 

In  1896  Dr.  Rogers  was  married  at  Stanford,  111.,  to  Miss  Sadie  R. 
Paul,  a  native  of  Stanford,  111.,  and  a  daughter  of  William  and  Louise  Paul, 
natives  of  Ohio,  now  deceased.  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Rogers  have  two  children, 
as  follows:  Byron  S.,  a  graduate  of  the  law  school  of  Illinois  Wesleyan 
University,  lives  at  Bloomington;  and  W.  Paul,  associated  with  the  F.  W. 
Woolworth  Co. 

In  politics  Dr.  Rogers  is  identified  with  the  Republican  party  and  he 
belongs  to  the  Masonic  lodge,  being  a  member  of  the  Consistory ;  the  Inde- 
pendent Order  of  Odd  Fellows;  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America,  and 
the  R.  N.  A.,  also  a  charter  member  American  Legion  and  Veteran  of 
Foreign  Wars.  He  is  a  member  of  the  First  Methodist  Church  and  his 
wife  belongs  to  the  Christian  Church.  Besides  his  practice,  Dr.  Rogers 
has  also  been  interested  in  the  housing  situation  of  Bloomington  and 
Normal,  and  has  made  a  specialty  of  building  and  selling  homes  on  the 
payment  plan. 

Dr.  Rogers  is  widely  known  in  McLean  County  and  has  well  earned 
the  respect  and  esteem  of  his  many  friends. 


Dr.  Harry  Lee  Howell,  a  capable  physician  and  surgeon  who  has  been 
successfuly  engaged  in  the  practice  of  his  profession  for  the  past  20 
years  in  Bloomington,  with  the  exception  of  a  period  of  29  months  in  the 
Medical  Department  of  the  United  States  Navy  during  the  World  War, 
is  a  native  of  Indiana.  He  was  born  in  Porter  County,  Ind.,  June  3,  1878, 
a  son  of  Lee  Griggs  and  Kate  Rhea  (Bailey)  Howell,  the  former  a  native 
of  Springfield,  Ohio,  and  the  latter  of  Terre  Haute,  Ind. 

Lee  Griggs  Howell  was  educated  in  Antioch  College.  He  was  a  promi- 
nent farmer  and  raised  horses  and  cattle  extensively.  He  served  as  county 
commissioner  of  Porter  County,  Ind.,  for  several  terms.    He  died  May  28, 


History  of  McLean  County  427 

1908,  and  is  buried  at  Valparaiso,  Ind.  His  widow  resides  at  308  E.  Jef- 
ferson Street,  Bloomington,  111.  They  were  the  parents  of  three  children ; 
Irene,  who  died  in  infancy;  Dr.  Harry  Lee,  the  subject  of  this  sketch; 
and  Mrs.  Ruth  Isabelle  Sutton,  900  Taylor  Avenue,  Scranton,  Pa. 

Dr.  Howell  grew  to  manhood  in  Porter  County,  Ind.,  and  attended 
the  public  schools  at  Kouts,  Ind.,  and  later  the  Valparaiso  High  School 
and  Purdue  University  at  Lafayette,  Ind.  He  then  entered  Rush  Medical 
School  at  Chicago,  111.,  where  he  was  graduated  with  the  degree  of  Doctor 
of  Medicine  in  1904.  He  then  began  the  practice  of  medicine  and  surgery 
at  Bloomington,  111.,  and  was  continuously  in  the  practice  here  until  the 
United  States  entered  the  World  War,  when  he  tendered  his  services  to 
the  government.  He  was  accepted  for  service  in  November,  1917,  and  was 
first  sent  to  the  Great  Lakes  Naval  Training  station.  Soon  after  he  was 
ordered  to  the  Atlantic  coast  and  assigned  as  one  of  the  medical  officers 
of  the  U.  S.  S.  "Valamares"  which  was  in  the  transport  service.  Remain- 
ing on  this  boat  from  April  until  October,  he  was  transferred  to  the  giant 
transport  Leviathan,  which  was  the  greatest  troop  carrying  ship  under 
the  American  flag  during  the  war.  It  had  formerly  been  the  Vaterland 
of  the  German  Hamburg-American  line,  but  was  interned  in  an  American 
port  at  the  outbreak  of  the  war.  It  was  taken  over  by  the  United  States 
government  and  converted  into  a  troop  ship.  This  vessel  had  a  carrying 
capacity  of  12,500  men,  and  the  medical  officers  of  such  a  ship  naturally 
had  great  responsibilities.  In  his  capacity  as  medical  officer,  Dr.  Howell 
made  15  trips  across  the  Atlantic  during  the  war,  but  after  the  signing 
of  the  armistice  came  an  even  greater  task  for  him.  The  great  move- 
ment of  troops  homeward  from  France  required  extra  work  for  the  troop 
ships  and  the  Leviathan  was  one  of  the  most  relied  upon  on  account  of 
its  great  capacity  and  speed.  The  medical  officers'  duties  were  strenu- 
ous, for  many  of  the  returning  soldiers  had  been  wounded  or  gassed.  Prior 
to  April  30,  1919,  Dr.  Howell  had  charge  of  the  surgical  department  for 
troops  alone,  but  after  that  date  his  jurisdiction  was  extended  to  cover 
the  crew  also.  Dr.  Howell  continued  in  this  active  service  until  the  fall 
of  1919,  when  he  was  permitted  to  return  home  on  a  furlough.  Not  until 
the  spring  of  1920  did  he  receive  his  discharge.  He  had  attained  the  rank 
of  lieutenant,  which  is  a  high  naval  rank.  After  his  discharge  he  re- 
turned to  Bloomington  and  resumed  his  practice  and  is  recognized  as  one 
of  the  leading  physicians  and  surgeons  of  central  Illinois. 

Dr.  Howell  was  married  at  Chicago,  Sept.   16,   1902,  to  Miss  Rose 


428  History  of  McLean  County 

Belle  Bachrach,  a  native  of  Litchfield,  111.,  and  a  resident  of  Bloomington. 
She  is  a  daughter  of  John  S.  and  Emilie  (Mandel)  Bachrach,  the  former 
a  native  of  Baltimore,  Md.,  and  the  latter  of  Germany.  Mr.  Bachrach 
died  June  13,  1904,  and  his  widow  resides  at  410  East  Front  Street. 
Bloomington,  111.  To  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Howell  have  been  born  two  children, 
Jane  Lee  and  June  Irene,  both  students  in  the  Bloomington  High  School. 
Dr.  Howell  is  a  Republican  and  ranks  high  in  Masonry,  being  a  mem- 
ber of  all  the  Masonic  bodies,  including  the  33d  degree.  He  is  also  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Elks,  the  Odd  Fellows,  and  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America. 


Oscar  O.  Rodman,  a  retired  farmer  of  McLean  County,  now  living  at 
Bloomington,  has  been  known  for  years  as  a  successful  stockman.  He  was 
born  on  the  David  Davis  farm,  near  Bloomington,  Dec.  7,  1854,  and  is  a 
son  of  Scammon  and  Elizabeth  Rodman. 

Scammon  Rodman  was  born  in  Buck  County,  Pa.,  Aug.  27,  1810,  and 
his  wife  was  also  a  native  of  the  same  county.  In  September,  1853,  they 
removed  to  McLean  County,  and  rented  a  farm  for  two  years.  Later, 
Mr.  Rodman  purchased  80  acres  of  land  and  became  a  successful  farmer. 
At  the  time  of  his  death  he  was  one  of  the  large  landholders  of  the  county. 
Mr.  Rodman  served  as  justice  of  the  peace  for  a  number  of  years  and  also 
as  township  supervisor.  His  wife  died  Jan.  28,  1880.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Rod- 
man were  the  parents  of  ten  children,  nine  of  whom  were  sons.  Mrs. 
Amanda  Porter,  their  daughter,  and  four  sons  are  now  living. 

Oscar  O.  Rodman  was  the  youngest  child  and  spent  his  boyhood  on 
his  father's  farm.  He  engaged  in  general  farming  and  stock  raising  and 
lived  on  the  Rodman  homestead  for  27  years.  Since  1917  he  has  lived 
retired  in  Bloomington. 

On  April  7,  1880,  Mr.  Rodman  was  married  to  Miss  Kate  B.  Schultz, 
a  native  of  Bloomington,  born  Aug.  2,  1861,  and  the  daughter  of  John  F. 
and  Catherine  (Dobbins)  Schultz.  Mr.  Schultz  was  born  in  Germany  and 
in  1852  came  to  Bloomington  where  he  operated  a  transfer  business  for 
many  years.  He  later  purchased  a  farm  in  Old  Township,  McLean  County, 
where  he  lived  until  1894.  He  died  at  Bloomington  in  1896,  and  his  wife 
died  the  following  year.  Mrs.  Rodman  was  the  only  child.  To.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Rodman  six  children  have  been  born,  as  follows:  Elizabeth  J.,  born 
April  9,  1881,  died  in  infancy;  Orlando  Scott,  born  April  12,  1884,  died 


History  of  McLean  County  429 

Oct.  2,  1888;  Myrtle  S.,  born  April  4,  1887,  married  Floyd  Campbell,  lives 
at  Holder,  111.,  and  they  have  one  child,  Muriel  L. ;  Mildred  Permelia,  born 
Sept.  28,  1892,  married  J.  Whitwood,  lives  at  Hudson,  111. ;  she  is  a  gradu- 
ate of  Grays  Music  College;  Fairy  Dell,  born  Feb.  19,  1897,  is  a  graduate 
of  Grays  Music  College,  Bloomington,  lives  in  Chicago;  and  Howard 
Newton,  mention  of  whom  is  made  below. 

Howard  Newton  Rodman  was  born  July  7,  1899,  and  received  his  edu- 
cation in  the  public  and  high  schools  at  Downs,  111.  He  was  employed 
in  the  office  of  the  Pantagraph  at  the  time  of  the  World  War  and  enlisted 
when  he  was  18  years  old.  He  died  in  a  government  military  hospital  at 
Hoboken,  N.  J.,  on  Oct.  9,  1918,  after  undergoing  an  operation,  and  is 
buried  in  Pleasant  Grove  Cemetery  in  Old  Town.  He  was  a  member  of 
the  Downs  Methodist  Church. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Oscar  0.  Rodman  are  members  of  the  Methodist  Church 
and  are  highly  respected  citizens  of  McLean  County,  where  they  have 
spent  their  entire  lives. 


W.  C.  Means,  a  former  county  treasurer  and  a  member  of  one  of 
the  very  early  pioneer  families  of  McLean  County,  is  a  native  of  this 
county.  He  was  born  in  Cheneys  Grove  Township,  Jan.  4,  1852,  and  is  a 
son  of  David  Dixon  and  Rebecca  (Cline)  Means. 

David  Dixon  Means  was  a  son  of  Robert  and  Sarah  (Rumsey)  Means, 
who  moved  from  Kentucky  to  Vermilion  County,  111.,  in  the  fall  of  1829. 
They  spent  the  winter  there  and  in  the  following  spring  removed  to  Che- 
neys Grove  Township,  McLean  County,  arriving  there  on  March  9,  1830. 
They  located  on  the  north  side  of  the  grove,  about  one  mile  from  the 
west  end,  and  was  the  fourth  white  family  to  settle  at  Cheneys  Grove. 
The  place  where  Robert  Means  settled  in  Cheneys  Grove  is  now  owned 
by  three  of  his  grandchildren,  the  children  of  his  youngest  child,  Mrs.  Mar- 
garet Means  Vanscoyoc.  Robert  Means  lived  about  five  years  after  com- 
ing to  McLean  County.  He  died  Aug.  1,  1835,  leaving  his  widow  with 
10  children.    He  was  a  soldier  in  the  War  of  1812. 

David  Dixon  Means,  father  of  W.  C.  Means,  was  about  four  years 
old  when  his  parents  settled  at  Cheneys  Grove.  He  grew  to  manhood 
amidst  the  pioneer  surroundings  of  this  county  in  the  early  days.  When 
he  attained  his  majority  he  entered  120  acres  of  land  from  the  govern- 


430  History  of  McLean  County 

ment,  one  and  one-half  miles  north  of  the  land  settled  by  his  parents  in 
Cheneys  Grove  Township.  In  1850  he  was  married  to  Rebecca  Cline  and 
began  housekeeping  in  the  old  log  cabin  which  his  father  built  when  the 
family  settled  at  Cheneys  Grove.  This  was  the  home  of  David  Dixon 
Means  for  only  a  few  years  when  he  built  on  his  own  land. 

Rebecca  Cline,  the  wife  of  David  Dixon  Means,  was  the  daughter  of 
George  Cline,  who  was  also  one  of  the  early  pioneers  of  Illinois.  He  lived 
near  Old  Berlin,  16  miles  west  of  Springfield.  He  was  a  veteran  of  the 
War  of  1812  and  was  a  Whig  up  to  the  time  of  the  organization  of  the 
Republican  party.  He  was  a  personal  friend  of  Abraham  Lincoln  and 
one  of  Lincoln's  ardent  political  supporters. 

W.  C.  Means  was  born  in  the  old  log  cabin  which  his  grandfather, 
Robert  Means,  built  at  Cheneys  Grove.  He  was  the  oldest  of  a  family 
of  12  children,  nine  brothers  of  whom  are  living.  Two  brothers  are  de- 
ceased, one  dying  at  the  age  of  three  years  and  the  other  at  the  age  of 
12,  and  one  sister  who  died  at  the  age  of  six  years. 

W.  C.  Means  was  reared  on  the  farm  which  his  father  entered  from 
the  government  in  Cheneys  Grove  Township.  He  began  his  educational 
career  on  April  1,  1858,  in  a  new  school  house,  which  was  built  by  the 
settlers  in  a  new  district  which  had  just  been  formed.  His  first  teacher 
was  Charles  Randall,  who  taught  a  term  of  three  months.  The  second 
teacher  of  the  new  district  was  Charles  Bovee  and  the  third  was  Miss 
Laura  Case.  After  1861  young  Means'  school  days  were  limited  to  the 
winter  months  as  he  had  to  assist  his  father  with  the  farm  work  during 
the  summer  months.  In  1866  and  1867  he  attended  what  was  known  as 
the  Saybrook  Academy  for  six  months  each  year,  and  in  1872  he  was  a 
student  at  the  Wesleyan  University  at  Bloomington  for  six  months. 

On  Nov.  3,  1875,  W.  C.  Means  was  married  to  Miss  Mary  Alice  Lewis. 
She  is  a  daughter  of  John  D.  and  Margaret  (Riggs)  Lewis,  early  settlers 
in  Cheneys  Grove  Township.  Mrs.  Means  was  reared  on  a  farm  just  one 
mile  from  the  boyhod  home  of  Mr.  Means.  They  knew  each  other  from 
early  childhood  and  attended  the  same  district  school  together.  To  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Means  have  been  born  two  children,  as  follows:  Roy  DeBell, 
teller  in  the  First  National  Bank  of  Pueblo,  Colo.,  married  Grace  King  of 
Lamar,  Colo.,  and  they  have  one  child,  Roy  D.,  Jr. ;  and  Margaret  Pearl 
Means,  resides  in  Bloomington  with  her  parents. 

Mr.  Means  began  life  for  himself  as  a  farmer  and  stock  raiser.  In 
1883  he  was  elected  township  collector  of  Cheneys  Grove  Township  and 


History  of  McLean  County  431 

served  three  years.  In  1886  he  moved  to  Saybrook  where  he  was  engaged 
in  the  grocery  business  for  12  years.  He  was  elected  township  assessor 
and  served  14  years  in  that  capacity.  In  1899  he  accepted  a  position  as 
aassistant  county  treasurer  under  Joseph  C.  Means  and  served  for  four 
years,  when  he  was  again  elected  assessor  of  Cheneys  Grove  Township 
and  served  two  years.  In  1905  he  accepted  a  position  as  deputy  county 
recorder  with  M.  B.  Carson  and  served  in  that  capacity  until  December, 
1910.  He  then  became  deputy  county  treasurer  under  P.  M.  Stubblefield, 
serving  for  four  years,  and  also  served  as  deputy  county  treasurer  for 
four  years  under  Joseph  F.  Rice.  In  1918  he  was  elected  county  treas- 
urer, serving  until  the  expiration  of  his  term,  Dec.  1,  1922. 

Mr.  Means  is  a  Republican  and  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Church. 
He  cast  his  first  presidential  vote  for  Rutherford  B.  Hayes.  He  says 
that  he  was  a  Republican  before  he  was  old  enough  to  vote  by  virtue  of 
the  influence  of  his  grandfather,  George  Cline,  who  was  a  charter  mem- 
ber of  the  Republican  party  and  a  personal  friend  of  Abraham  Lincoln. 

Mr.  Means  is  one  of  the  widely  known  men  of  McLean  County  and 
the  many  positions  of  public  trust  which  have  been  delegated  to  him 
have  been  faithfully  and  efficiently  filled. 


George  C.  Heberling,  president  of  the  Heberling  Medicine  and  Ex- 
tract Company  of  Bloomington,  is  a  well  known  and  successful  business 
man  of  McLean  County.  He  was  born  at  Cadiz,  Ohio,  March  12,  1875, 
and  is  a  son  of  W.  S.  and  Rose  (Hagan)  Heberling. 

W.  S.  Heberling  was  born  at  Cadiz,  Ohio,  and  his  wife  was  a  native 
of  Adena,  Ohio.  He  followed  farming  and  stock  raising  for  many  years 
and  is  now  living  retired  at  Buchanan,  Mich.  His  wife  is  deceased.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  W.  S.  Heberling  had  five  children:  Mrs.  Iona  Webb,  lives  at 
Bloomington,  111. ;  J.  G.,  lives  at  Peoria,  111. ;  H.  S.,  lives  at  West  Liberty, 
Iowa;  Mrs.  Madella  Phillips,  lives  in  Bloomington;  and  George  C,  the 
subject  of  this  sketch. 

George  C.  Heberling  spent  his  boyhood  at  Cadiz,  Ohio,  and  received 
his  education  in  the  public  school.  After  completing  a  commercial  and 
stenographic  course  at  Valparaiso,  Ind.,  he  was  employed  in  the  office  of 
the  Griffin  Wheel  Company  in  Chicago  for  five  years.  In  1902,  Mr.  Heber- 
ling came  to  Bloomington  and  organized  the  Heberling  Medicine  &  Ex- 


432  History  of  McLean  County 

tract  Company,  in  which  business  he  has  been  engaged  ever  since.  This 
company  manufactures  medicines,  flavoring  extracts,  toilet  articles,  etc., 
and  is  known  in  25  different  states.  There  are  300  people  employed  in  the 
manufacture  and  sale  of  the  company's  product. 

In  1900,  Mr.  Heberling  was  married  to  Miss  Mertle  Dickerson,  a  na- 
tive of  West  Liberty,  Iowa,  and  a  daughter  of  John  C.  and  Sarah  A.  Dick- 
erson, natives  of  Iowa,  now  deceased.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Heberling  have  one 
daughter,  Lucile,  who  married  Edward  J.  Harpfer,  and  they  live  in  De- 
troit, Mich. 

Mr.  Heberling  is  a  Republican  and  has  served  as  president  of  the 
Bloomington  Association  of  Commerce,  and  also  president  of  the  Bloom- 
ington  Club.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Second  Christian  Church  and  belongs 
to  the  Masonic  Lodge,  Consistory  and  Shrine.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the 
Woodmen  and  the  T.  P.  A.  Mr.  Heberling  is  a  member  of  the  Blooming- 
ton  Country  Club  and  the  Maplewood  Country  Club.  He  is  at  present  a 
member  of  the  Board  of  Directors  of  the  Association  of  Commerce,  and 
has  always  taken  an  active  part  in  the  industrial  development  of  the 
city  in  which  he  lives. 


Frank  E.  Shorthose,  deceased,  was  born  near  Danvers,  March  29, 
1865,  the  son  of  John  L.  and  Eleanor  (Frazier)  Shorthose. 

John  L.  Shorthose  was  born  in  Staffordshire,  England,  June  25,  1827, 
and  his  wife  was  a  native  of  Belmont  County,  Ohio,  born  Oct.  16,  1837. 
Mr.  Shorthose  came  to  America  in  1849  with  his  two  brothers  and  landed 
in  New  York  City.  He  lived  in  Zanesville,  Ohio,  for  two  years,  and  then 
came  to  Illinois  and  engaged  in  the  milling  business  with  his  brothers  at 
Danvers.  Mr.  Shorthose  later  purchased  a  farm  of  480  acres  of  land  in 
Danvers  Township,  which  he  improved,  and  for  many  years  he  was  among 
the  leading  and  successful  stockmen  of  McLean  County.  He  bred  Short- 
horn cattle,  Poland  China  hogs  and  high  grade  horses.  Mr.  Shorthose  re- 
tired one  month  before  the  time  of  his  death,  Nov.  14,  1898.  He  was  a 
staunch  Republican  and  served  on  the  school  board  for  a  number  of  years. 
Mrs.  Shorthose  died  May  14,  1914,  at  Seward,  Neb.  There  were  eight 
children  in  the  family,  as  follows:  Mrs.  Alice  Dickinson,  lives  at  Seward, 
Neb. ;  A.  R.,  Danvers,  111. ;  Mrs.  Johanna  Hartsock,  lives  in  Los  Angeles, 
Calif. ;  John  L.,  died  June  25,  1876 ;  Thomas  H.,  accidentally  killed  in  Den- 


PRANK  E.    SHORTHOSE. 


OF  THE 

- 


History  of  McLean  County  433 

ver,  Colo.,  July  2,  1912;  Belle,  died  Jan.  3,  1883;  Frank  E.,  the  subject  of 
this  sketch;  and  William  T.,  died  March  17,  1921,  at  Bloomington,  111., 
where  he  had  been  a  druggist  for  a  number  of  years. 

Frank  E.  Shorthose  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  McLean 
County  and  lived  on  the  home  farm  until  he  was  22  years  old.  After 
spending  three  years  in  Denver,  Colo.,  Mr.  Shorthose  returned  to  McLean 
County  and  farmed  for  five  years  and  then  entered  the  employ  of  the 
Chicago  and  Alton  Railroad  on  March  29,  1903,  as  a  fireman.  After  three 
years  and  eight  months  he  was  promoted  to  engineer.  Mr.  Shorthose  held 
a  splendid  record  for  his  services  with  the  company.  In  April,  1923,  he 
was  elected  mayor  of  Bloomington  in  a  sweeping  victory.  He  was  a  Repub- 
lican and  received  5,222  votes  while  the  Democratic  candidate  received 
1,860  votes.  It  was  one  of  the  most  decisive  victories  that  has  been  re- 
corded in  Bloomington  for  many  years.  He  retained  his  position  as  en- 
gineer with  his  duties  as  mayor,  having  a  leave  of  absence  from  the  rail- 
road company.  On  Jan.  4,  1924,  during  his  term  of  office  Mr.  Shorthose 
died. 

Mr.  Shorthose  was  married  on  April  12,  1917,  to  Miss  Flora  Schlegel, 
a  native  of  McLean  County  and  the  daughter  of  Charles  Schlegel,  a  native 
of  Germany.    Mr.  and  Mrs.  Shorthose  had  no  children. 

Mr.  Shorthose  was  always  a  Republican.  He  was  a  32nd  degree 
Scottish  Rite  Mason  and  a  member  of  the  Bloomington  Consistory  and  the 
Shrine  at  Peoria  and  belonged  to  the  Brotherhood  of  Locomotive  Engi- 
neers, Division  No.  19.  Mr.  Shorthose  was  favorably  known  throughout 
McLean  County  as  a  progressive  citizen  and  a  man  of  enterprise  and 
ability. 


William  W.  Tilden,  a  prominent  citizen  of  Bloomington,  who  was  suc- 
cessfully engaged  in  the  lumber  business,  is  a  native  of  New  York.  He 
was  born  at  Jamestown,  Dec.  22,  1867,  and  is  the  son  of  Adalbert  L.  and 
Mary  C.  (Wheeler)  Tilden. 

Adalbert  L.  Tilden  was  born  at  Garrettsville,  Ohio,  and  is  now  living 
retired  at  New  Haven,  Conn.  For  many  years  he  was  engaged  in  lum- 
bering and  farming  in  Erie  County,  Pa.,  and  served  as  assistant  secretary 
of  state  four  years,  under  Governor  Patterson,  Harrisburg,  Pa.  His  wife, 
who  was  born  at  Batavia,  N.  Y.,  died  in  1902,  and  is  buried  at  Union  City, 

(26) 


434  History  of  McLean  County 

Pa.  There  were  three  children  in  the  Tilden  family:  Charles  A.,  died 
in  1916;  Mrs.  R.  K.  Fenno,  lives  at  New  Haven,  Conn.;  and  William  W., 
the  subject  of  this  sketch. 

William  W.  Tilden  was  reared  at  LeBouf,  Erie  County,  Pa.,  and  re- 
ceived his  education  in  the  schools  of  Waterford,  Pa.  He  began  life  as 
a  farmer  and  in  1889  entered  the  retail  lumber  business  at  Wichita, 
Kan.,  afterward  being  located  at  Winfield  and  Arkansas  City,  Kan.,  Guth- 
rie, Okla.,  Memphis,  Tenn.,  St.  Louis,  Chicago  and  Decatur,  111.  Mr.  Til- 
den has  been  connected  with  the  Corn  Belt  Lumber  Company  of  Bloom- 
ington  for  several  years. 

On  June  10,  1901,  Mr.  Tilden  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Pa- 
milla  A.  Ruff,  a  native  of  Chicago  and  a  daughter  of  Joseph  and  Desde- 
mona  (Anderson)  Ruff,  the  former  a  native  of  Scotland  and  the  latter  of 
New  York.  At  the  time  of  her  marriage  Mrs.  Tilden  lived  at  3036  Lake 
Park  Avenue,  Chicago.  Mr.  Ruff  lives  at  1347  Hood  Avenue,  Chicago. 
His  wife  died  April  1,  1902.  To  William  W.  and  Pamilla  A.  (Ruff)  Tilden 
have  been  born  three  children:  Margaret  A.,  Pamilla  W.,  and  William  W., 
Jr.     The  Tilden  home  is  located  at  43  Whites  Place,  Bloomington. 

Mr.  Tilden  is  a  Republican  and  he  and  his  family  are  members  of  the 
Baptist  Church.  He  is  affiliated  with  the  following  clubs  and  lodges: 
Arts  &  Crafts  Lodge  No.  1017,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  Bloomington  Consistory, 
Bloomington  Club,  Maplewood  Country  Club,  McLean  County  Country 
Club,  Consistory  Club,  Rotary  Club  and  Y.  M.  C.  A.  Mr.  Tilden  has  been 
unusually  successful  and  is  considered  one  of  Bloomington's  most  effi- 
cient citizens. 


Albert  W.  Belcher,  now  living  retired  at  Bloomington,  has  been  a  sub- 
stantial citizen  of  McLean  County  for  many  years.  He  was  born  at  Brim- 
field,  111.,  Feb.  22,  1840,  and  is  a  son  of  Daniel  and  Rachel  Belcher. 

Daniel  Belcher  was  born  near  Boston,  Mass.,  and  came  to  Illinois  in 
1835,  locating  at  Brimfield  where  he  owned  and  operated  a  hotel  for  many 
years.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Belcher  had  three  children,  of  whom  Albert  W.,  the 
subject  of  this  sketch,  is  the  only  one  now  living. 

Albert  W.  Belcher  was  educated  in  the  district  schools  and  assisted 
his  father  about  the  hotel  for  several  years.  On  Aug.  27,  1862,  he  en- 
listed in  Company  H.  86th  Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry  and  served  through- 


History  of  McLean  County  435 

out  the  war.  He  was  with  the  regiment  in  every  battle  and  was  never 
sick  or  wounded.  He  was  with  Sherman  on  his  famous  March  to  the  Sea, 
and  was  discharged  June  28,  1865.  Mr.  Belcher  then  returned  home  and 
engaged  in  the  grain  and  milling  business  for  a  number  of  years.  He 
entered  the  employ  of  the  Hays  Pump  &  Planter  Company  as  a  travel- 
ing salesman,  and  remained  in  the  employ  of  this  company  for  28  years. 
He  has  lived  in  Bloomington  since  1892  but  did  not  retire  from  business 
until  1918. 

In  December,  1869,  Mr.  Belcher  was  married  to  Miss  Sarah  Slocum, 
the  daughter  of  Joseph  and  Elizabeth  Slocum,  who  resided  at  Brimfield, 
111.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Belcher  four  children  were  born,  as  follows:  Thad- 
deus,  died  at  the  age  of  34  years;  Lois,  married  A.  W.  Sumner,  who  is 
engaged  in  the  real  estate  business  in  Bloomington;  Delia,  married  H.  P. 
Ferguson,  an  engineer  in  one  of  the  large  sugar  plants  at  Cuba,  where  they 
reside;  and  Allen,  died  at  the  age  of  seven  years. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Belcher  attend  the  Christian  Scientist  Church  at  Bloom- 
ington. He  has  voted  the  Prohibition  party,  after  that  any  other,  but  his 
candidate  must  have  a  clean  record. 


Charles  Creel,  now  living  retired  at  Bloomington,  has  had  a  success- 
ful career  as  a  farmer  and  stockman  of  McLean  County.  He  was  born  in 
Dawson  Township,  McLean  County,  Dec.  17,  1860,  and  is  a  son  of  Will- 
iam and  Rebecca  (Jacoby)  Creel. 

William  Creel  was  one  of  the  earliest  settlers  of  McLean  County. 
He  was  born  in  Virginia,  April  26,  1805,  and  came  to  Illinois  in  1838, 
locating  at  Bloomington,  where  he  worked  at  his  trade  as  shoemaker.  In 
1844  he  purchased  a  farm  in  Dawson  Township,  McLean  County,  where 
he  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life.  Mr.  Creel  died  Dec.  13,  1901,  and  his 
wife  died  Nov.  6,  1876.  She  was  born  in  Illinois,  Sept.  23,  1821,  and  was 
the  daughter  of  Henry  and  Julie  (Clark)  Jacoby.  To  William  and  Re- 
becca (Jacoby)  Creel  seven  children  were  born,  as  follows:  Elizabeth 
Dooley,  deceased;  Mary  Weber,  lives  at  LeRoy,  111.;  William,  deceased; 
George,  lives  retired  at  Bloomington ;  Sarah,  lives  with  her  brother  Charles 
in  Bloomington;  John  lives  retired  in  Bloomington;  and  Charles,  the  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch. 

Charles  Creel  spent  his  boyhood  on  the  home  place  in  Dawson  Town- 
ship and  was  educated  in  the  district  schools.     He  has  always  followed 


•436  History  of  McLean  County 

farming  and  has  been  among  the  extensive  breeders  of  hogs  in  McLean 
County.  He  usually  had  about  400  hogs  on  his  place  and  was  also  a 
feeder  of  stock.  Mr.  Creel  owned  427  acres  of  well-improved  land,  which 
was  located  in  Dawson  and  Empire  Townships.  For  the  past  four  years 
he  has  lived  retired  at  1219  East  Washington  Street,  Bloomington. 

Mr.  Creel  is  identified  with  the  Democratic  party  in  politics.  He  has 
an  extensive  acquaintance  in  McLean  County  and  is  highly  respected. 
Mr.  Creel  is  unmarried. 


Rev.  Charles  Tupper  Baillie,  pastor  of  the  Second  Presbyterian  Church 
of  Bloomington,  is  a  leading  and  influential  citizen  of  McLean  County. 
He  was  born  at  Pictou,  Nova  Scotia,  Dec.  9,  1884,  and  is  a  son  of  George 
William  and  Janet  Ellen  (Calder)  Baillie. 

George  William  Walker  Baillie  was  a  native  of  Pictou,  Nova  Scotia, 
and  his  wife  was  born  in  Halifax,  Nova  Scotia.  He  began  life  as  a  news- 
paper reporter  at  Pictou  and  later  became  owner  and  editor  of  one  of  the 
daily  papers  there.  He  was  a  graduate  of  Pictou  Academy  and  after  com- 
ing to  this  country  worked  as  a  reporter  on  several  papers,  including 
Boston  papers.  Mr.  Baillie  was  owner  and  editor  of  The  Pictou  Standard 
at  the  time  of  his  death,  in  1887.  He  is  buried  at  Pictou,  Nova  Scotia. 
His  wife  lives  with  her  son,  Rev.  Charles  T.  Baillie,  at  1301  E.  Washing- 
ton Street,  Bloomington.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Baillie  were  the  parents  of  four 
children,  as  follows:  George,  deceased;  Nettie,  deceased;  Arthur  Cald- 
well, secretary  of  the  Home  Insurance  Company,  56  Cedar  Street,  New 
York  City;  and  Rev.  Charles  Tupper,  the  subject  of  this  sketch. 

Rev.  Charles  Tupper  Baillie  was  reared  in  Halifax,  N.  S.,  and  at- 
tended the  public  and  high  schools  there,  after  which  he  was  graduated 
from  Dalhousie  University  at  Halifax,  N.  S.  He  was  a  candidate  for  the 
Rhodes  Scholarship  from  Nova  Scotia,  obtaining  second  place.  In  190o 
he  won  the  degree  of  M.  A.  and  entered  the  Law  School  of  Dalhousie  Uni- 
versity. Mr.  Baillie  went  to  San  Fernando,  Trinidad,  B.  W.  I.  in  1906  to 
become  Head  Master  of  Naparina  College,  a  school  modeled  on  the  great 
English  public  schools.  In  1909  he  came  to  New  York  to  enter  the  Union 
Theological  Seminary,  whence  he  graduated  in  1912,  winning  the  Trav- 
eling Fellowship  awarded  annually  by  the  Seminary.  Thereafter  he 
studied  in  Germany  for  two  years,  at  the  Universities  of  Marburg,  Ber- 
lin and  Halle. 


History  of  McLean  County  437 

In  1914,  Mr.  Baillie  accepted  a  position  on  the  teaching  staff  of  the 
Presbyterian  Theological  Seminary,  San  Fernando,  B.  W.  I.  His  health 
broke  down  and  in  1917  he  returned  to  New  York.  After  a  few  months' 
rest  he  was  able  to  accept  the  position  of  student  assistant  in  the  Church 
History  Department  of  the  Union  Theological  Seminary.  Mr.  Baillie  held 
this  post  for  two  years,  accepting  the  pastorate  of  the  First  Presbyterian 
Church,  Plattsburgh,  N.  Y.,  in  1919.  He  came  to  Bloomington,  April 
1922. 

On  Aug.  24,  1909,  Mr.  Baillie  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Nina 
Vincent,  a  native  of  Port-of-Spain,  Trinidad,  British  West  Indies.  She 
is  a  daughter  of  Col.  Harry  and  Jane  H.  (McClean)  Vincent,  both  natives 
of  Great  Britain,  and  a  sister  of  Capt.  Claude  H.  Vincent  of  the  British 
Royal  Flying  Corps,  who  won  high  distinction  during  the  World  War 
Col.  Vincent  is  a  retired  officer  of  the  British  Army  and  lives  at  Port-of- 
Spain,  Trinidad,  British  West  Indies.  His  wife  died  in  March,  1920.  To 
Reverend  and  Mrs.  Baillie  five  children  have  been  born,  as  follows :  Ar- 
thur Vincent,  Nina  Marjorie,  Phyllis  Maude,  Mary  Janet  McClean,  and 
Charles  Douglas  Baillie. 

Mr.  Baillie  is  a  member  of  the  American  Church  History  Society  and 
of  the  Masonic  Lodge,  Plattsburgh,  No.  828.  He  also  belongs  to  the 
Bloomington  Rotary  Club  and  is  one  of  the  highly  esteemed  citizens  of 
Bloomington  and  McLean  County. 


W.  F.  Engle,  retired,  has  been  a  well-known  and  successful  business 
man  of  McLean  County  for  many  years.  He  was  born  in  Allegany  County, 
N.  Y.,  Jan.  3,  1859,  and  is  the  son  of  T.  M.  and  Mary  Jane  (McGibeny) 
Engle. 

T.  M.  Engle  was  a  native  of  Allegheny  County,  N.  Y.,  born  Aug.  27, 
1824,  and  his  wife  was  born  near  Troy,  N.  Y.,  March  21,  1831.  Mr.  Engle 
studied  for  the  ministry,  but  was  obliged  to  give  it  up  on  account  of  im- 
paired health,  which  affected  his  voice.  After  teaching  school  for  sev- 
eral years  he  engaged  in  farming  and  stock  raising,  and  lived  to  be  85 
years  of  age.  He  died  Sept.  14,  1909,  and  his  wife  died  June  30,  1890. 
They  were  the  parents  of  seven  children,  as  follows:  Florence  Virginia, 
born  March  22,  1852,  died  Sept.  29,  1853;  Rosamond  A.,  born  Aug.  31, 
1854,  married  George  A.  Sanford;  John  Samuel,  born  Feb.   22,   1856,  a 


438  History  of  McLean  County 

retired  farmer  lives  in  Angelica,  N.  Y. ;  W.  F.,  the  subject  of  this  sketch; 
Jennie  May,  born  May  11,  1864,  married  Frank  Baker,  lives  in  Angelica, 
N.  Y. ;  Sarah  L.,  lives  in  Angelica,  N.  Y. ;  and  M.  B.,  born  Feb.  2,  1871, 
lives  at  Angelica,  N.  Y.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Engle  were  active  members  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  and  he  was  Sunday  School  superintendent 
for  many  years,  sometimes  conducting  as  many  as  three  schools  at  the 
same  time. 

W.  F.  Engle  grew  to  manhood  in  New  York  and  was  educated  in  the 
public  schools  there  and  attended  Alfred  University  in  Allegany  County, 
N.  Y.  After  teaching  school  and  music  for  several  years,  Mr.  Engle  be- 
came interested  in  a  hosiery  manufacturing  company  at  Rockford,  111., 
which  was  then  known  as  the  S.  B.  Wilkins  Company.  The  trade-mark 
name  of  the  company  afterwards  became  "Black  Cat"  and  the  factory 
was  later  moved  to  Kenosha,  Wis.  This  company  was  one  of  the  largest 
industries  of  its  kind  in  the  United  States. 

Mr.  Engle  purchased  a  portion  of  the  stock  and  traveled  on  the  road 
representing  it  for  30  years.  He  has  lived  in  Bloomington  since  1887 
and  has  been  retired  since  1919.  Mr.  Engle  owns  several  properties  and 
apartment  buildings  in  Bloomington  and  has  large  land  holdings. 

On  June  12,  1884,  Mr.  Engle  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Lilian 
L.  Worden,  a  native  of  Rushford,  N.  Y.,  and  a  daughter  of  Percy  and  Asa 
Worden.  Mr.  Worden  was  a  native  of  Lyon,  N.  Y.,  and  Mrs.  Worden  of 
Rushford,  N.  Y.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Worden  were  the  parents  of  the  following 
children:  Alton  M.,  born  in  1849,  a  large  landowner  in  Tennessee  and 
Alabama;  Olivia,  married  Samuel  DuBoyce;  Ida,  the  widow  of  Charles 
Leach;  W.  W.,  lives  in  Des  Moines,  Iowa;  Grace,  married  F.  M.  Wishard, 
lives  in  Redland,  Cal.,  and  Catherine,  married  J.  A.  Darforth,  president  of 
the  Deer  Creek  Bank,  Deer  Creek,  111.  To  W.  F.  and  Lilian  L.  (Worden) 
Engle  five  children  have  been  born,  as  follows:  Grace,  a  student  of  Illi- 
nois Womans  College,  married  to  W.  B.  Rayburn,  lives  in  Cleveland,  Ohio; 
Worden,  died  in  infancy;  Mary  Elizabeth,  a  graduate  of  Smith  College, 
married  B.  A.  Danforth,  lives  at  Deer  Creek,  111. ;  Esther  A.,  a  graduate 
of  the  University  of  Illinois,  a  teacher  in  the  Bloomington  High  School, 
lives  at  home;  and  Ruth  L.,  a  graduate  of  Oberlin  College,  lives  at  home 
and  teaches  in  the  high  school  at  Lakewood,  Ohio. 

Mr.  Engle  has  been  a  progressive  business  man  of  Bloomington  and  is 
highly  esteemed  throughout  McLean  County. 


W  ' 


VINTON   B.   HOWELL. 


History  of  McLean  County  439 

Vinton  E.  Howell,  now  deceased,  was  a  veteran  of  the  Civil  War  and 
a  substantial  citizen  of  Bloomington  and  McLean  County  for  many  years. 
He  was  born  on  a  farm  in  Licking  County,  Ohio,  Nov.  30,  1840,  the  son 
of  George  P.  and  Matilda  (Preston)  Howell. 

The  Howell  family  came  to  Illinois  in  a  covered  wagon  in  1852  and 
settled  in  the  Price  neighborhood  in  McLean  County,  where  they  lived  in 
a  log  cabin.  In  1855  they  removed  to  Bloomington  and  located  on  what 
was  then  the  main  street.  Here  George  P.  Howell  farmed  on  land  entered 
from  the  government  until  the  time  of  his  death.  There  were  ten  children 
in  the  Howell  family,  all  of  whom  are  now  deceased  except  Hattie  Wirt, 
who  resides  at  Battle  Creek,  Mich. 

Vinton  Howell  spent  his  boyhood  on  his  father's  farm  and  attended 
the  district  schools.  When  he  was  17  years  old  he  enlisted  for  service 
during  the  Civil  War,  and  served  throughout  the  war  in  Company  C,  33rd 
Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry.  He  took  part  in  the  siege  of  Vicksburg;  the 
captain  of  his  company  was  Captain  Lewis,  later  editor  of  the  Pantagraph 
of  Bloomington.  After  his  return  from  the  war,  Mr.  Howell  engaged  in 
general  farming  in  Anchor  Township  on  a  large  scale  with  his  brothers, 
Samuel  P.  and  Alfred  Howell.  He  became  an  extensive  stockman  and  was 
also  a  grain  farmer.  He  drained  his  land  and  improved  it  with  good  farm 
buildings.  In  1875,  Mr.  Howell  moved  to  Arrowsmith,  where  he  engaged 
in  shipping  stock  exclusively. 

Mr.  Howell  served  as  sheriff  of  McLean  County  from  1886  to  1890  and 
as  a  member  of  the  United  States  Senate  in  1893.  He  later  purchased 
a  home  at  1606  N.  Main  Street,  in  Bloomington,  and  organized  the  Corn 
Belt  Bank,  and  was  elected  president  and  director,  which  office  he  held 
until  the  time  of  his  death,  April  5,  1911. 

On  Nov.  11,  1873,  Mr.  Howell  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Frances  A.  Hill,  and  to  this  union  three  children  were  born,  as  follows: 
Sarah  M.,  married  Guy  L.  Garrison,  lives  at  Bloomington;  Frank  A.,  fur- 
ther mention  of  whom  is  made  below ;  and  Louie,  married  Dr.  E.  B.  Hart, 
a  sketch  of  whom  appears  in  this  history. 

Frank  A.  Howell  was  born  in  1880  and  received  his  education  in  the 
public  and  high  schools  of  Bloomington,  and  was  also  graduated  from 
Illinois  State  Normal  University.  At  the  age  of  18  years  he  entered  the 
employ  of  the  Corn  Belt  Bank  at  Bloomington,  where  he  remained  until 
1917,  at  which  time  he  retired.  He  is  still  a  director  in  the  bank  and 
owns  400  acres  of  good  farm  land  in  McLean  County  and  a  large  ranch 


440  History  of  McLean  County 

in  South  Dakota.  Mr.  Howell  is  a  32d  degree  Mason  and  a  member  of  the 
Elks  Lodge. 

Frank  A.  Howell  was  married  on  Dec.  5,  1911,  to  Miss  Olive  A.  Lucas, 
a  native  of  Bloomington,  who  died  during  the  influenza  epidemic  on  Dec. 
4,  1918. 

Vinton  E.  Howell  was  a  Republican.  He  was  one  of  the  dependable 
and  excellent  citizens  of  McLean  County  and  the  Howell  family  is  repre- 
sentative of  the  best  citizenship  of  the  community. 


Palmer  Q.  Moore,  who  now  lives  retired  at  Normal,  has  been  a  well 
known  farmer  and  stockman  of  McLean  County  for  many  years.  He  was 
born  in  Green  County,  Wis.,  Oct.  31,  1861,  and  is  a  son  of  J.  W.  and  Sarah 
J.  (Armstrong)  Moore. 

J.  W.  Moore  was  born  in  Tennessee  and  was  a  son  of  Francis  Moore, 
who  moved  to  Illinois  when  his  son  was  nine  years  of  age.  Francis  Moore 
followed  farming  during  his  life  and  died  in  Livingston  County,  111.  His 
son,  J.  W.  Moore,  was  a  minister  of  the  Christian  Church  and  was  among 
the  pioneer  preachers  of  Iowa,  having  gone  there  in  1863.  Before  that 
time  he  had  lived  in  Woodford  County,  111.,  and  in  Wisconsin.  He  died 
in  1904  at  the  age  of  68  years  and  his  wife,  a  native  of  Bowling  Green, 
Ind.,  died  in  1900  at  the  age  of  75  years.  They  were  the  parents  of  five 
children,  two  of  whom  are  now  living,  Palmer  Q.,  the  subject  of  this 
sketch;  and  Mrs.  A.  A.  Kelley,  who  lives  at  Troy  Mills,  Iowa. 

Palmer  Q.  Moore  was  reared  in  Iowa  and  attended  the  public  and  high 
schools  at  Clarksville,  Iowa.  He  lived  on  his  father's  farm  until  1885,  at 
which  time  he  moved  to  McLean  County,  where  he  rented  land  for  10 
years.  Mr.  Moore  then  purchased  a  farm  in  Normal  Township,  which 
he  improved,  and  for  many  years  he  was  a  widely  known  farmer  and 
stockman.  He  has  lived  retired  in  Normal  since  December,  1906.  He 
owns  485  acres  of  land  in  Linn  County,  Iowa,  and  is  a  stockholder  in 
three  grain  elevators,  located  at  Kerrick,  111.,  Alburnett,  Iowa,  and  La- 
fayette, Iowa.  Since  retiring  from  his  farm,  Mr.  Moore  has  spent  four 
years  in  Iowa,  where  his  sons  and  sons-in-law  farm  Mr.  Moore's  land. 

On  March  8,  1885,  Mr.  Moore  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Hattie  Hall,  a  native  of  McLean  County,  and  the  daughter  of  Isaac  and 
Martha  J.  Hall,  the  former  a  native  of  McLean  County,  and  the  latter  of 


MR.    AND   MRS.    PALMER    Q.    MOORE. 


OF  THE 


History  of  McLean  County  441 

Kentucky.  The  Hall  family  originally  came  from  Kentucky.  To  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Moore  have  been  born  four  children,  as  follows:  Etta,  married  Wil- 
liam Wilson,  lives  in  Linn  County,  Iowa,  and  has  three  children,  Joseph, 
Franklin  and  Leonard;  Elmer  N.,  married  Orlou  Stick,  lives  in  Linn  County, 
Iowa,  and  has  three  children,  Vera  Marie,  Bernetta  Lucille  and  Franklin 
Nolan ;  Ina  J.,  married  Charles  Griffin,  lives  in  Linn  County,  Iowa,  and  has 
two  children,  Zetta  Bernice  and  Cecile  Leota;  and  Harriet  Marie,  married 
Clarence  Stahley,  lives  in  Linn  County,  Iowa,  and  has  one  child,  Betty 
Marie. 

Mr.  Moore  is  identified  with  the  Republican  party  in  politics  and  has 
served  as  school  trustee,  health  officer  and  as  alderman  of  Normal.  He  is 
a  member  of  the  Christian  Church  and  is  a  substantial  and  highly  re- 
spected citizen  of  McLean  County. 


John  Feicht,  now  living  retired,  has  been  a  prominent  business  man 
of  Bloomington  for  many  years.  He  was  born  in  Bloomington,  Dec.  25, 
1865,  and  is  the  son  of  Christ  and  Lydia  (Farney)  Feicht. 

Christ  Feicht  was  a  native  of  Studgard,  Germany,  and  came  to  the 
United  States  in  1840  when  he  was  about  18  years  of  age.  He  located  at 
Peoria,  111.,  and  later  went  to  Mackinaw,  111.,  where  he  managed  a  dis- 
tillery. Mr.  Feicht  died  in  1910,  and  his  wife  died  Oct.  31,  1901.  They 
were  members  of  the  German  Lutheran  Church.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Feicht 
were  the  parents  of  six  children,  as  follows:  Frederick,  died  in  1920; 
Anna,  married  Frank  Wagoner,  lives  at  Alton,  111. ;  Augusta,  died  in  in- 
fancy; John,  the  subject  of  this  sketch;  Kate,  married  Edward  Kingston, 
lives  at  Bloomington;  and  Flora,  married  E.  J.  Leirman,  lives  at 
Bloomington. 

John  Feicht  spent  his  boyhood  days  in  Bloomington  and  attended  the 
public  schools  there.  His  first  employment  was  that  of  a  tobacco  stripper 
at  $1.25  per  week,  and  at  the  age  of  13  years  he  learned  the  blacksmith 
trade  which  he  followed  for  two  years.  His  next  employment  was  in  a 
pool  room  where  he  received  $1.00  per  day,  working  daily  from  7  a.  m. 
until  11  p.  m.  When  he  was  a  young  man  Mr.  Feicht  engaged  in  the  saloon 
business  which  he  continued  until  prohibition  came  into  effect.  He  now 
lives  retired  at  914  South  Madison  Street,  Bloomington. 


442  History  of  McLean  County 

In  1890  Mr.  Feicht  was  married  to  Miss  Hulda  Harting,  a  native  of 
Bloomington,  and  the  daughter  of  Charles  and  Minnie  (Feicke)  Harting. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Harting  were  natives  of  Germany  and  came  to  the  United 
States  in  1870,  locating  at  Bloomington,  where  Mr.  Harting  worked  at  his 
trade  as  blacksmith.  He  and  his  wife  are  now  deceased.  To  John  and 
Hulda  (Harting)  Feicht  four  children  were  were  born,  as  follows:  Mabel, 
died  in  1910,  at  the  age  of  19  years;  Charles  A.,  cashier  of  the  Cudahy 
Meat  plant  in  Bloomington,  married  Miss  Tjaden,  and  they  have  one  son, 
Howard  Eugene;  John  Elmer,  died  in  infancy;  and  Earl  L.,  born  in  1907, 
a  student  in  high  school. 

Mr.  Feicht  is  a  member  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  Elks  Lodge,  Red 
Men,  and  the  Loyal  Order  of  Moose.  He  is  a  dependable  citizen  and  is 
well  known  in  McLean  County. 


Charles  Thomas,  who  is  successfully  engaged  in  farming  and  stock 
raising  on  his  farm  of  151  acres  in  Randolph  Township,  was  born  in  Ger- 
many, April  25,  1851,  the  son  of  Carl  and  Louise  Thomas. 

Carl  Thomas  and  his  wife  were  natives  of  Germany  and  came  to 
America  in  1871,  locating  on  land  in  McLean  County.  Mr.  Thomas  fol- 
lowed general  farming  during  his  life  and  died  at  Bloomington,  Jan.  6, 
1895,  and  his  wife  died  March  9,  1894.  They  were  the  parents  of  the 
following  children:  Charles,  the  subject  of  this  sketch;  Costa,  deceased; 
and  John,  a  retired  farmer,  lives  on  Madison  Street,  Bloomington. 

Charles  Thomas  was  reared  and  educated  in  Germany  and  at  the  age 
of  20  years  enlisted  in  the  German  army  and  served  in  France  for  two 
years.  While  he  was  in  service  his  parents  moved  to  the  United  States 
and  shortly  after  his  discharge  from  the  army  he  came  to  this  country 
and  located  at  Chicago  for  one  year.  He  then  came  to  McLean  County 
and  worked  on  a  farm  near  Hudson  for  one  year,  after  which  he  returned 
to  Chicago.  He  returned  to  McLean  County,  however,  and  rented  a  farm, 
which  he  operated  for  11  years.  Mr.  Thomas  now  owns  a  well-improved 
farm  in  Randolph  Township,  but  resides  at  507  Moulton  Street, 
Bloomington. 

In  1877  Mr.  Thomas  was  married  to  Miss  Wilhelmina  Reanke  in  Chi- 
cago, and  to  this  union  the  following  children  were  born:  Bertha,  born 
Jan.   2,   1878,  married  Albert  Shultz,  lives  in  McLean  County;   Amelia, 


History  of  McLean  County  443 

born  Dec.  5,  1879,  married  Ernest  Koos,  lives  in  McLean  County ;  Ida,  born 
March  2,  1881,  married  Carl  Bruckman;  Herman,  a  farmer,  lives  in  Mc- 
Lean County;  Martha,  born  Dec.  26,  1885,  deceased;  Clara,  born  May  7, 
1889,  married  Louis  Grese,  lives  in  McLean  County;  Emma,  born  March 
21,  1892,  married  John  Graf,  a  farmer,  lives  in  McLean  County;  and  Carl, 
born  June  29,  1894,  lives  at  home. 

Mr.  Thomas  and  his  family  are  members  of  the  German  Lutheran 
Church  at  Bloomington  and  they  are  reliable  and  substantial  members  of 
the  community. 


Robert  K.  Leech,  now  deceased,  was  for  many  years  a  well  known 
and  highly  respected  citizen  of  Bloomington.  He  was  born  at  McKees- 
port,  Allegheny  County,  Pa.,  in  1831,  and  was  a  son  of  James  and  Dorcas 
Leech.  In  1859  Robert  K.  Leech  went  to  Leon,  Iowa,  and  worked  at  his 
trade,  which  was  that  of  a  brick  mason.  He  was  married  at  Leon  and 
two  years  later  came  to  Bloomington,  111.,  where  he  worked  at  his  trade 
and  contracting  until  the  time  of  his  death  in  July,  1911.  He  was  a  vet- 
eran of  the  Civil  War,  having  enlisted  in  Bloomington  in  1862,  and  became 
a  member  of  Company  F,  94th  Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry.  He  took  part 
in  a  number  of  battles,  including  the  siege  of  Vicksburg,  and  after  serv- 
ing three  years  was  honorably  discharged  at  Fort  Morgan. 

Mr.  Leech  was  married  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Mikel,  a  daughter  of  Will- 
iam and  Catherine  (Warren)  Mikel,  of  J^eon,  Iowa,  and  to  that  union 
were  born  the  following  children:  Lenna,  married  James  R.  Clark,  and 
they  had  one  son,  an  attorney,  who  is  now  located  at  Springfield,  111. ; 
Norma  F.,  married  W.  D.  Master,  a  retired  farmer,  and  they  have  one 
daughter,  Edith  L.,  who  is  a  teacher  in  the  Petersburg,  111.,  high  school; 
John  S.,  who  served  for  a  number  of  years  in  the  government  printing 
office  at  Washingfton,  D.  C,  and  later  was  sent  to  Manila  in  the  govern- 
ment printing  service,  where  he  remained  13  years,  and  is  now  in  the 
employ  of  J.  P.  Morgan  &  Co.,  in  New  York  City,  as  credit  man;  James 
William,  was  a  printer  and  died  at  San  Antonio,  Texas,  leaving  one 
daughter  who  resides  in  Colorado ;  Katie  Florence,  who  died  in  Blooming- 
ton at  the  age  of  22  years. 

The  Leech  family  are  all  members  of  the  Baptist  Church.  Mrs.  Leech 
resides  at  607  East  Jefferson  Street,  Bloomington.     She  is  recognized  as 


[V 


444  History  of  McLean  County 


one  of  the  honored  pioneer  women  of  McLean  County,  and  the  Leech 
family  is  highly  respected. 


Clair  O.  Hamilton,  state  bank  examiner,  is  a  prominent  citizen  of 
Bloomington  and  McLean  County.  He  was  born  in  Bloomington,  Dec.  5, 
1883,  and  is  the  son  of  F.  Y.  and  Emma  (Cone)  Hamilton. 

F.  Y.  Hamilton,  a  native  of  Richwood,  Ohio,  was  a  well-known  attor- 
ney of  Bloomington  for  many  years.  He  died  Nov.  29,  1922,  and  his  wife, 
who  was  born  in  Adrian,  Mich.,  died  March  9,  1888.  They  were  the  par- 
ents of  two  children:  Clair  0.,  the  subject  of  this  sketch;  and  Ethel, 
who  died  Oct.  29,  1920.     She  was  the  wife  of  Senator  Frank  0.  Hanson. 

Clair  0.  Hamilton  received  his  education  in  the  public  and  high 
school's  of  Bloomington,  after  which  he  was  graduated  from  the  Virginia 
Military  Institute  at  Lexington,  Va.  He  is  also  a  graduate  of  the  Rose 
Polytechnic  Institute  of  Terre  Haute,  Ind.  After  completing  his  school 
work,  Mr.  Hamilton  followed  his  profession  as  electrical  engineer  for  a 
number  of  years,  being  located  at  Houston,  Texas,  and  at  Greenville,  Miss. 
He  later  owned  a  tailoring  establishment  and  men's  furnishing  business 
in  Bloomington  and  Normal,  which  he  conducted  successfully  for  11  years. 
At  the  present  time  Mr.  Hamilton  is  serving  in  the  capacity  of  state  bank 
examiner  and  lives  at  711  East  Empire  Street,  Bloomington. 

On  Aug.  12,  1901,  Mr.  Hamilton  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Nell  Kimler,  a  native  of  LeRoy,  111.,  and  the  daughter  of  Frank  and  Jane 
(Pemberton)  Kimler,  natives  <*f  Ohio  and  Indiana,  respectively.  Mr. 
Kimler  died  in  1917  and  his  wife  died  the  year  previous.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Hamilton  four  children  have  been  born:  Frank  K.,  Jack  R.,  Margaret 
R.,  and  Nancy  Jane  Hamilton. 

Mr.  Hamilton  is  a  Republican,  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church, 
and  belongs  to  the  Masonic  Blue  Lodge  and  Consistory.  He  is  a  nephew 
of  former  Governor  John  Marshal  Hamilton  of  Illinois. 


Franklin   Young   Hamilton   was   born   Dec.    27,    1852,   at   Richwood, 
Ohio,  in  a  one  and  a  half  story  log  house  of  two  rooms,  which  is  still  stand 
ing.    His  parents  were  Samuel  and  Nancy  Hamilton.     He  was  the  fourth 
son  of  a  family  of  nine  children.    The  family  came  to  Illinois  when  he  was 


History  of  McLean  County  445 

a  year  old,  locating  first  on  a  farm  near  Varna,  whence  in  1866  they  re- 
moved to  Wenona.  He  obtained  his  education,  first  at  the  Illinois  Wes- 
leyan  University,  afterwards  at  Adrian  College,  Michigan,  the  latter  con- 
ferring upon  him  the  college  degree. 

,In  1882,  upon  his  graduation,  he  came  to  Bloomington,  and  in  1884 
entered  the  law  office  of  Rowell  &  Hamilton  as  a  student;  the  latter,  his 
brother,  was  afterward  a  state  senator,  lieutenant  governor  and  gov- 
ernor. Upon  the  completion  of  his  law  studies,  he  was  admitted  to  the 
bar  of  the  state,  and  in  1886-88  he  served  as  a  member  of  the  state  legis- 
lature, making  there  an  honorable  record.  At  the  conclusion  of  this  term 
of  service  he  entered  upon  the  active  practice  of  his  profession,  and  so 
continued  until  his  death  at  Brokaw  Hospital,  Nov.  24,  1922. 

As  a  lawyer,  he  was  recognized  as  one  of  the  leaders,  was  for  29 
years  the  local  counsel  of  what  is  now  the  Big  Four  railroad  system.  He 
always  enjoyed  the  confidence  of  all,  a  good  practice,  and  was  frequently 
engaged  in  important  cases;  besides,  what  he  preferred,  an  extensive 
office  practice,  in  which  his  superior  business  ability  and  judgment,  and 
his  thorough  knowledge  of  the  law  gave  him  "success. 

He  was  prominent  and  faithful  in  civic  matters.  He  was  a  member 
of  Bloomington  Lodge  No.  43  of  Masons,  and  of  the  Bloomington  Con- 
sistory; a  charter  member  of  the  College  Alumni  and  Longfellow  Clubs, 
and  for  many  years  an  Odd  Fellow;  until  his  later  years  was  active  in 
the  church,  and  in  the  Y.  M.  C.  A.  For  many  years  he  was  a  trustee  of 
Brokaw  Hospital,  as  such  a  representative  of  Abraham  Brokaw,  his  client, 
and  rendered  great  service  in  procuring  the  latter's  bequest  to  that  char- 
ity, as  well  as  in  other  important  respects. 

He  was  thrice  married,  first  to  Emma  J.  Cone,  at  Morenci,  Mich.,  Oct. 
3,  1875.  For  a  time  the  husband  and  wife  taught  school  at  Sheridan, 
Mich.  They  had  two  children,  Claire  0.  Hamilton  and  Ethel  Hamilton, 
the  latter  married  Frank  0.  Hanson,  and  died  in  1920.  In  1890  Mr. 
Hamilton  married  Olive  Hudson,  and  in  1916  Mrs.  Anna  Morrison,  each 
of  whom  preceded  him  into  the  great  beyond.  Two  sisters,  Mrs.  E.  H. 
Miller  of  Chicago  and  Mrs.  0.  C.  Allen  survive  him. 

He  was  affable,  a  true  friend,  a  gentleman,  always  ready  to  serve 
others.  He  left  behind  him  the  kindly  recollections  of  his  brethren  at 
the  bar,  and  of  a  wide  circle  of  friends  who  feel  a  personal  loss  and  be- 
reavement in  his  death.  One  by  one,  the  third  generation  of  Blooming- 
ton's  lawyers  is  passing  away;  the  present  one  of  younger  men  taking 


446  History  of  McLean  County 

their  places,  who  will  be  stimulated,  encouraged  and  have  much  to  learn 
from  the  examples  of  faithfulness,  energy  and  devotion  to  the  high  ideals 
of  Mr.  Hamilton. 


Frank  H.  Blose,  alderman  from  the  Third  Ward  of  Bloomington,  is 
a  well  known  and  successful  business  man  of  McLean  County.  He  was 
born  on  a  farm  in  Warren  County,  Ohio,  May  16,  1860,  the  son  of  John 
W.  and  Jacqueline  (Hayner)  Blose. 

John  W.  Blose  and  his  wife  were  natives  of  Virginia  and  the  parents 
of  two  children,  as  follows:  Frank  H.,  the  subject  of  this  sketch;  and 
Jennie,  married  Charles  H.  Smith,  a  farmer,  lives  in  Warren  County, 
Ohio.  Mr,.  Blose  died  Dec.  31,  1923,  at  the  age  of  90  years.  His  wife 
died  in  April,  1909. 

Frank  H.  Blose  was  reared  on  his  father's  farm  in  Ohio  and  attended 
the  public  schools.  When  he  was  19  years  old  he  began  his  apprentice- 
ship as  blacksmith  and  three  years  later  worked  at  his  trade  in  Spring- 
boro,  Ohio,  a  short  distance  from  his  home.  In  October,  1881,  he  came 
to  Illinois  and  located  at  Delana,  now  Glenavon,  where  he  remained  until 
1888,  at  which  time  he  moved  to  Bloomington.  Mr.  Blose  has  been  in 
business  at  Bloomington  during  all  these  years;  his  shop  located  at  413 
N.  Center  Street,  until  1892  when  he  moved  to  his  present  location  at  218 
S.  Center  Street.  When  Mr.  Blose  embarked  in  the  horse  shoeing  business 
in  Bloomington  there  were  probably  as  many  shops  as  there  are  now 
garages.  He  has  been  privileged  to  witness  the  closing  of  the  farrier 
shops  one  by  one  until  now  but  a  few  remain. 

On  April  5,  1883,  Mr.  Blose  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Ora  B. 
Batson,  a  daughter  of  Alexander  A.  and  Mary  C.  (Babbitt)  Batson,  na- 
tives of  Indiana.  The  Batson  family  came  to  Illinois  in  1880  and  settled 
near  Glenavon.  Mr.  Batson  served  throughout  the  Civil  War  and  is  now 
deceased.  His  widow  resides  with  her  daughter,  Mrs.  Blose.  To  Frank 
H.  and  Ora  B.  (Batson)  Blose  four  children  have  been  born,  as  follows: 
Gertrude,  married  Harry  H.  Craig,  a  member  of  the  Chicago  police  force; 
Annie  M.,  married  Frank  Baker,  lives  in  Bloomington;  George  H.,  died  in 
infancy ;  and  Edgar  L.,  has  been  an  electrician  for  the  Bloomington  Light 
Company  for  16  years,  is  married  and  has  one  child,  Marian  Barbara.  He 
is  a  veteran  of  the  World  War. 


History  of  McLean  County  447 

Frank  H.  Blose  was  elected  alderman  from  the  Third  Ward  in  1923 
and  he  is  chairman  of  the  finance  committee  and  also  of  the  judiciary  and 
light  companies.  Since  the  death  of  Mayor  Shorthose,  Jan.  4,  1924,  Mr. 
Blose  has  been  acting  mayor  of  Bloomington.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Masonic  Lodge  No.  43  and  has  filled  all  the  offices  of  his  lodge,  including 
master  from  1896  to  1897.  He  is  one  of  the  oldest  past  masters  of  the 
Bloomingtn  Lodge  and  is  a  member  of  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America. 
Mr.  Blose  and  his  family  are  members  of  the  Christian  Church  and  he  is 
a  highly  respected  citizen  of  his  community. 


Walsh  &  Sons,  dealers  in  stone  and  granite,  are  among  the  enter- 
prising and  successful  business  men  of  Bloomington.  The  firm  was 
organized  by  Michael  Walsh  many  years  ago  and  is  now  conducted  by 
his  sons.  He  was  a  native  of  Ireland,  born  in  1857.  Following  his  mar- 
riage, Mr.  Walsh  came  to  the  United  States  and  settled  at  Bloomington, 
where  he  was  employed  by  the  Chicago  &  Alton  Railroad  as  a  stone  cutter. 
After  several  years  he  became  a  contracting  stone  mason  and  his  first 
piece  of  work  was  the  residence  of  Reverend  Weldon  on  North  Main 
Street.  The  stone  yard  was  located  at  the  corner  of  Center  and  Market 
streets,  the  present  site  of  the  Will  building.  The  present  location  is  at 
600  West  Olive  Street.    Mr.  Walsh  died  in  1909. 

In  1856  Michael  Walsh  was  married  to  Miss  Anna  Shaunessy,  a 
native  of  Ireland,  and  to  this  union  the  following  children  were  born: 
Michael  E.,  a  member  of  the  firm;  Mary,  married  William  Young,  lives  in 
Bloomington ;  Anna,  married  James  Cavello,  lives  in  Bloomington ;  Thomas 
M.,  a  veteran  of  the  World  war,  also  a  partner  in  the  business;  Julia, 
married  Fred  Gerth,  lives  in  Bloomington;  Lawrence  P.,  a  partner  in  the 
business;  Margaret,  married  Lawrence  Wagoner;  Eleanor,  married 
Thomas  Salmon ;  John  J.,  a  partner  in  the  business,  and  Edward,  serving 
in  the  United  States  Navy,  and  is  now  stationed  in  Washington.  Mrs. 
Michael  Walsh  died  in  1914. 

Walsh  &  Sons,  as  the  firm  is  still  known,  is  among  the  leading  business 
enterprises  of  Bloomington.  They  handle  stones  of  all  kinds  and  domes- 
tic and  imported  granites.  Since  the  death  of  their  father  in  1909,  the 
Walsh  boys  have  invested  a  considerable  amount  in  the  business  and 
enlarged  it  extensively.  They  have  about  $50,000  invested  and  do 
$120,000  worth  of  business  annually. 


448  History  of  McLean  County 

Archie  M.  Augustine,  nationally  known  horticulturist  and  nursery- 
man, is  a  resident  of  Normal  and  a  member  of  one  of  McLean  County's 
prominent  pioneer  families.  He  was  born  at  Pontiac,  111.,  Nov.  10,  1869, 
and  is  the  son  of  Capt.  Henry  and  Margaret  (Gapen)  Augustine,  a  com- 
plete sketch  of  whom  appears  elsewhere  in  this  history. 

Mr.  Augustine  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  and  the  Illinois 
State  Normal  University.  After  completing  his  education  he  entered 
the  nursery  business  at  Normal  with  his  father,  who  was  already  widely 
known  through  his  horticultural  pursuits.  In  September,  1890,  Mr. 
Augustine  left  Normal  and  went  to  Buenos  Aires,  Argentine  Republic, 
where  he  established  a  nursery.  After  four  years  of  work  and  study 
there  he  returned  to  Normal.  In  1905  he  went  to  Michigan,  where  he 
established  an  orchard  in  the  northern  part  of  the  state.  Two  years 
later,  however,  he  became  interested  in  the  banking  business  at  West 
Branch,  Mich.,  where  he  remained  two  years.  Mr.  Augustine  has  in- 
herited his  ability  along  horticultural  lines  from  his  father  and  has  even 
advanced  further  in  the  new  methods.  He  has  devoted  practically  his 
entire  life  to  this  work  and  the  name  of  Augustine  is  closely  associated 
with  horticulture  throughout  the  country,  as  well  as  in  many  countries 
abroad. 

On  Sept.  14,  1895,  Mr.  Augustine  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Belle  Cothran  Marsh,  a  native  of  Bloomington,  born  Sept.  5,  1873,  and 
the  daughter  of  Dr.  Benjamin  P.  and  Mary  F.  (Ayres)  Marsh.  The 
Marsh  family  came  to  Illinois  in  1850  from  New  York  and  in  1866  Dr. 
Marsh  located  in  Bloomington,  where  he  served  as  the  first  high  school 
principal  in  1867.  He  later  engaged  in  the  practice  of  medicine  there, 
which  he  followed  successfully  until  the  time  of  his  death  in  1911.  He 
was  71  years  of  age.  Dr.  Marsh  was  a  well  educated  man,  being  a  grad- 
uate of  Knox  College,  Galesburg,  111.,  Rush  Medical  College  and  Hanna- 
man  Medical  College,  Chicago.  He  always  took  a  keen  interest  in  state 
and  religious  affairs  and  for  many  years  was  among  the  influential  citi- 
zens of  Illinois.  Mary  F.  (Ayres)  Marsh  was  a  prominent  woman  of  her 
day.  She  conducted  the  first  kindergarten  school  in  Bloomington  and  for 
a  number  of  years  had  charge  of  the  Girls'  Industrial  School.  Mrs.  Marsh 
held  many  club  offices,  was  Regent  of  the  Daughters  of  the  American 
Revolution,  and  was  an  active  church  member.  She  died  in  1912  at  the 
age  of  69  years.     Four  children  were  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Marsh,  two 


OF  TBK 


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History  of  McLean  County  449 

of  whom  are  now  living,  Mrs.  Archie  M.  Augustine,  and  Mrs.  Catherine 
Risley,  lives  at  Albany,  N.  Y. 

Mrs.  Archie  M.  Augustine  is  a  graduate  of  Bloomington  High  School 
and  the  Illinois  Wesleyan  Conservatory  of  Music.  She  is  a  member  of 
the  Kappa  Kappa  Gamma  sorority  and  is  regent  of  the  Daughters  of  the 
American  Revolution  at  the  present  time.  To  Archie  M.  and  Belle  Coth- 
ran  (Marsh)  Augustine  two  children  have  been  born,  as  follows:  Frances 
Marsh,  the  wife  of  Herman  Schimpff,  lives  in  Peoria,  111.,  and  they  have 
one  child,  Mary  Frances;  and  Areta  M.,  a  student  at  Illinois  State  Normal 
University. 

Mr.  Augustine  has  served  as  president  and  secretary  of  the  Central 
Illinois  Horticulture  Society,  as  secretary  of  the  Illinois  State  Horticulture 
Society  for  nine  years,  and  for  10  years  had  charge  of  the  Illinois  Horti- 
cultural Society  Experimental  Stations  in  Illinois.  He  was  elected  presi- 
dent of  this  society  but  resigned  that  office  soon  after  his  election.  Mr. 
Augustine  also  served  as  secretary  two  years  and  president  two  years 
of  the  Illinois  State  Nurserymen's  Association. 

Mr.  Augustine  is  a  Republican,  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church, 
and  belongs  to  the  Masonic  Lodge  and  all  its  branches.  He  served  as  a 
director  of  the  Illinois  Children's  Home  Finding  Society  for  10  years, 
taking  the  position  left  vacant  by  his  father's  death.  Mr.  Augustine  also 
belongs  to  the  Rotary  Club  of  Bloomington.  He  is  a  man  of  high  civic 
ideals,  capable  and  practical  in  all  phases  of  his  work,  and  a  citizen  of 
whom  his  community  is  justly  proud. 


Capt.  Henry  Augustine,  deceased,  was  of  German  ancestry.  He  was 
born  in  Lancaster  County,  Pa.,  July  25,  1840,  the  son  of  John  A.  and  Anna 
(Miller)  Augustine.  John  A.  Augustine  was  a  native  of  Wurtemburg, 
Germany,  and  came  to  America  as  a  boy,  locating  in  Lancaster  County, 
Pa.,  where  he  married  and  reared  a  family  of  ten  children.  In  1857  he 
brought  his  family  to  Canton,  111.,  and  here  his  death  occurred  in  1870, 
his  wife  having  died  four  years  previous. 

Henry  Augustine  was  17  years  old  when  the  family  removed  to 
Illinois.  He  received  his  education  in  his  native  state  and  engaged  in 
farming  until  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  War.  He  enlisted  on  Aug.  3,  1861, 
in  Company  A,  55th  Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry,  as  company  sergeant.    On 

(27) 


450  History  of  McLean  County 

Aug.  1,  1862,  he  was  commissioned  second  lieutenant  and  on  Oct.  2nd  of 
the  same  year  was  promoted  to  first  lieutenant.  June  27,  1864,  he  was 
commissioned  captain  and  commanded  Company  A  until  the  following 
Nov.  8  when  he  resigned,  and  upon  his  return  recruited  Company  I,  51st 
Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry,  as  captain.  In  this  capacity  he  continued  until 
November,  1865,  when  he  was  mustered  out  of  service  and  honorably 
discharged,  having  participated  in  32  hard  fought  battles,  and  been 
under  the  enemy's  fire  for  196  days.  During  six  months  of  his  service 
he  was  judge-advocate  of  a  military  court.  His  promotion  from  rank  to 
rank  speaks  for  itself,  and  certainly  in  the  Union  ranks  there  was  no  more 
earnest,  courageous  and  helpful  soldier.  Two  of  his  brothers,  Michael 
and  J.  M.  Augustine  fell  and  were  buried  by  the  captain  on  the  battlefield, 
and  the  remains  were  brought  home  by  him  and  interred  at  Canton,  111., 
after  the  war.  The  former,  who  was  a  member  of  the  103rd  Illinois 
Volunteer  Infantry  was  killed  at  Missionary  Ridge,  while  the  latter,  who 
was  lieutenant-colonel  of  the  55th  Illinois  Infantry  regiment  lost  his  life 
at  Kenesaw  Mountain. 

After  the  war  Capt.  Augustine  engaged  in  the  drug  business  in  Can- 
ton, 111.,  until  1868,  when  owing  to  failing  health  he  engaged  in  farming 
and  the  nursery  business  at  Pontiac,  111.  In  1876  he  came  to  Normal  and 
established  the  present  nursery  business  on  a  small  scale,  which  at  present 
is  one  of  the  best  known  enterprises  of  the  kind  in  the  State  of  Illinois. 
A  regular  and  important  part  of  the  business  in  the  past  has  been  its 
foreign  trade,  having  had  business  connections  with  France,  England, 
Germany,  Scotland,  South  Africa,  Australia  and  New  Zealand.  Captain 
Augustine  introduced  many  new  and  valuable  fruits  and  to  him  is 
ascribed  the  Sudduth,  one  of  the  most  valuable  varieties  known  of  the 
pear,  as  well  as  the  introduction  in  the  west  of  the  Snyder  blackberry.  He 
was  superintendent  of  the  Illinois  State  Fruit  Exhibit  at  the  Columbia 
Exposition  in  Chicago,  in  1893,  and  the  creditable  showing  of  Illinois  fruit 
at  that  time  was  due  to  his  unceasing  efforts  and  pride  in  local  conditions. 
He  served  as  president  of  the  National  Nurserymen's  Association  and 
Illinois  State  Horticultural  Society,  and  contributed  to  the  literature  and 
general  undertakings  of  both  these  organizations. 

To  the  enviable  reputation  as  soldier  and  horticulturalist  must  be 
added  that  of  philanthropist,  the  latter  perhaps  the  most  unceasing  and 
tireless  of  the  efforts  of  Captain  Augustine.  For  more  than  35  years  he 
devoted  time  and  money  to  the  noble  cause  of  the  Children's  Home  and 


History  of  McLean  County  451 

Aid  Society,  an  organization  which  has  accomplished  untold  good  for  the 
homeless  waifs  of  society.  He  was  an  active  member  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church  and  served  as  president  of  the  Illinois  State  Sunday 
School  Association,  and  the  McLean  County  Sunday  School  Association. 
For  14  years  he  was  Sunday  School  superintendent  at  the  Soldiers'  and 
Orphans'  Home  at  Normal.  He  was  also  identified  with  the  Grand  Army 
of  the  Republic,  being  a  member  of  the  W.  T.  Sherman  Post,  Bloomington. 

The  marriage  of  Captain  Augustine  and  Margaret  E.  Gapen  occurred 
March  17,  1869,  and  of  this  union  there  is  a  son,  Archie  M.,  a  sketch  of 
whom  appears  in  these  volumes.  Mrs.  Henry  Augustine  was  born  in  Penn- 
sylvania and  educated  in  Fulton  County,  111.,  where  she  removed  with  her 
parents  in  early  life,  they  being  Bachriach  and  Margaret  (McGee)  Gapen. 

On  March  8,  1913,  Capt.  Augustine  was  killed  by  a  Chicago  &  Alton 
passenger  train  in  front  of  his  office,  which  is  located  at  the  Illinois  Cen- 
tral and  Chicago  &  Alton  Crossing.  Mrs.  Augustine  is  now  living  in  Los 
Angeles,  Calif. 

Captain  Augustine  was  one  of  the  solid,  substantial  and  highly  es- 
teemed men  of  McLean  County  and  his  life  was  an  expression  of  rare 
ability,  noble  purpose,  well  directed  generosity  and  faith  in  the  goodness 
and  possibility  of  his  fellowmen. 


John  J.  Stack,  now  living  retired  at  Bloomington,  is  a  member  of  a 
well  known  pioneer  family  of  McLean  County.  He  was  born  in  Blooming- 
ton, June  5,  1868,  and  is  a  son  of  Patrick  and  Helen  (Kinsella)  Stack. 

Patrick  Stack  was  a  native  of  Ireland,  born  March  17,  1831,  and  was 
one  of  a  family  of  eight  children,  all  of  whom  are  deceased.  In  the  spring 
of  1848  Patrick  Stack  and  his  brother  Edward  came  to  New  Orleans  in  a 
sailing  vessel  that  took  over  eight  weeks  to  make  the  voyage.  When 
they  landed  in  New  Orleans  there  was  an  epidemic  of  cholera  there  and 
they  both  hired  out  as  deck  hands  and  worked  on  the  Ohio  and  Missis- 
sippi rivers.  Later  they  worked  at  their  trades  as  stone  and  brick  masons 
in  St.  Louis  for  one  year.  From  there  they  went  to  Lexington,  Ky.  Three 
years  later  they  heard  of  a  building  boom  in  Chicago  and  went  there  for 
two  months  and  then  went  to  Bloomington.  This  was  in  1852.  They  were 
employed  by  the  Illinois  Central  Railroad  Company  as  stone  masons.  At 
this  time  the  railroad  was  being  built  from  Chicago  to  Clinton,  111.,  and 


452  History  of  McLean  County 

the  work  lasted  for  several  years.  Mr.  Stack  then  became  interested  in 
paving  and  was  instrumental  in  having  the  first  brick  pavement  laid  in 
Bloomington.  The  bricks  were  made  by  James  McGregory  and  the  brick 
yard  was  located  southeast  of  Bloomington.  He  was  first  appointed  fore- 
man under  the  street  commissioner  and  after  three  years  was  elected 
commissioner.  Later  Mr.  Stack  became  interested  in  the  proposed  water 
works  for  Bloomington  and  he  located  a  well  north  of  the  cemetery,  which 
was  65  feet  in  depth  and  40  feet  in  diameter.  This  well  furnished  all  the 
water  used  in  Bloomington  until  20  years  ago.  Mr.  Stack  was  also  identi- 
fied with  the  sewage  system  in  Bloomington  and  most  of  the  pipes  fur- 
nished for  this  purpose  were  eight  feet  in  diameter.  All  of  the  brick 
used  was  purchased  from  the  McGregor  &  Hafter  Brick  Company. 

Patrick  Stack  owned  480  acres  of  land  near  Bellflower,  111.,  and  a 
great  deal  of  property  in  Bloomington.  He  was  a  Republican  and  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Holy  Trinity  Church.  Mr.  Stack  was  married  in  Lexington, 
Ky.,  to  Miss  Helen  Kinsella,  a  daughter  of  Patrick  and  Helen  (Burnes) 
Kinsella.  To  this  union  the  following  children  were  born:  Edward,  de- 
ceased; William,  deceased;  Robert,  deceased;  John  J.,  the  subject  of  this 
sketch;  Elizabeth,  married  Harry  Barnett,  lives  in  Chicago;  Mary,  mar- 
ried Patrick  Fitzgerald,  lives  in  Bloomington;  and  Kate,  married  John 
Killian,  lives  near  Bloomington.  Mr.  Stack  died  Jan.  20,  1902,  and  his 
wife  died  Nov.  24,  1900. 

John  J.  Stack  spent  his  boyhood  in  Bloomington  and  received  his  edu- 
cation in  the  public  schools  there.  When  he  was  a  young  man  he  engaged 
in  general  farming  and  stock  raising  and  for  30  years  owned  and  oper- 
ated a  fine  stock  farm  near  Bellflower,  111.  He  also  engaged  in  the  grain 
business  extensively  and  met  with  marked  success  in  all  his  business  un- 
dertakings. He  owns  1,000  acres  of  land  near  Bloomington,  which  he  now 
rents.  Mr.  Stack  resides  in  a  fine  brick  home  on  Oakland  Avenue,  in 
Bloomington,  which  was  formerly  the  home  of  J.  D.  Robertson. 

On  Jan.  30,  1901,  Mr.  Stack  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Nora 
Tobin,  a  daughter  of  Henry  and  Elizabeth  (Trainor)  Tobin.  Mr.  Tobin 
was  born  in  Ireland  and  came  to  the  United  States  in  1867,  locating  in 
New  York  for  a  short  time,  after  which  he  came  to  McLean,  111.  He  later 
purchased  a  farm  near  Bellflower,  where  he  and  his  wife  now  reside. 
They  are  the  parents  of  the  following  children :  Nellie,  deceased ;  Cather- 
ine, the  widow  of  John  Malone ;  Mrs.  Stack ;  Simon,  deceased ;  Sarah,  de- 
ceased; and  Belle,  married  Frank  Yeagle.     To  John  J.  and  Nora  (Tobin) 


History  of  McLean  County  453 

Stack  11  children  have  been  born,  as  follows:  Harry  P,  born  Jan.  20, 
1902,  a  graduate  of  Brown  Business  College  of  Bloomington,  now  editor  of 
a  newspaper  in  Des  Moines,  Iowa ;  Joseph,  born  Oct.  31,  1903,  employed  in 
the  First  National  Bank  of  Bloomington;  John  0.,  born  Sept.  7,  1905,  died 
Nov.  6,  1917;  William  W.,  born  April  23,  1908;  Walter  E.,  born  April  9, 
1910;  Nora  Mary,  born  Oct.  19,  1911;  James  Edward,  born  May  12,  1914; 
Margaret  E.,  born  Feb.  12,  1916;  Dorothy  F.,  born  Oct.  4,  1919;  Robert  G., 
born  April  27,  1921,  is  the  fourth  Robert  in  the  Stack  family;  and  Helen 
M.,  born  Sept.  8,  1923. 

John  J.  Stack  is  a  member  of  the  Holy  Trinity  Church  and  belongs  to 
the  Elks  Lodge  and  the  Knights  of  Columbus.  He  is  a  representative  and 
dependable  citizen  of  McLean  County  and  has  many  friends  and  ac- 
quaintances. 


Arthur  Rowland  Williams,  director  of  the  School  of  Commerce  of 
Illinois  State  Normal  University,  is  a  leading  citizen  of  McLean  County. 
He  was  born  at  Sault  Ste.  Marie,  Mich.,  May  28,  1877,  and  is  the  son  of 
Dr.  Wesley  and  Harriet  (Newell)  Williams. 

The  first  of  the  Williams  family  to  come  to  the  western  hemisphere 
was  Richard  Williams,  a  captain  in  the  British  Navy.  After  retiring 
from  his  service,  he  came  to  this  country  in  1809  and  located  in  Balti- 
more, Md.  Dr.  Wesley  Williams,  father  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was 
born  at  Guelph,  Ontario,  Canada,  in  1849.  His  wife,  also  a  native  of 
Canada,  was  born  at  Owen  Sound,  Ontario,  in  1854.  Dr.  Williams  has 
long  been  a  prominent  man  in  his  profession  as  dentist  and  is  a  well  known 
figure  in  the  Democratic  party  of  Michigan.  He  and  his  wife  reside  at 
Sault  Ste.  Marie.  They  have  two  children:  Arthur  Rowland,  and  Dr. 
Harold  Keyes  Williams,  a  successful  dentist  of  Sault  Ste.  Marie,  Mich. 

Arthur  Rowland  Williams  was  reared  at  Sault  Ste.  Marie,  and  after 
finishing  high  school  there  entered  the  Armour  Institute  in  Chicago. 
He  is  also  a  graduate  of  Kenyon  College,  at  Gambier,  Ohio,  the  Univer- 
sity of  Michigan,  and  the  University  of  Chicago.  Mr.  Williams'  first 
occupation  in  life  was  that  of  editor  of  the  Weekly  Times  at  Sault  Ste. 
Marie.  His  positions  since  that  time  have  been  as  purchasing  agent  for 
the  Talbot  Construction  Company  of  Sault  Ste.  Marie;  teacher  at  St. 
John's    Military    Academy,    Delafield,    Wis. ;    vice-principal    of    Deerfield 


454  History  of  McLean  County 

Shields  High  School,  Highland  Park,  111.,  and  director  of  the  School  of 
Commerce  of  Illinois  State  Normal  University.  Mr.  Williams  is  also  head 
of  the  A.  R.  Williams  &  Company,  public  accountants  of  Bloomington. 

On  Sept.  2,  1913,  Mr.  Williams  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Gertrude  Ann  Nevins,  a  native  of  Highland  Park,  111.,  and  the  daughter 
of  Edward  and  Eleanor  (Murphy)  Nevins,  the  former  a  native  of  Ireland 
and  the  latter  of  Watertown,  N.  Y.  Mr.  Nevins  lives  retired  at  Highland 
Park,  111.  His  wife  died  in  1913.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Williams  two  children 
have  been  born:  Arthur  Richard  and  James  David,  both  students  at 
Metcalf  School,  Illinois  State  Normal  University. 

Mr.  Williams  is  a  Democrat  and  a  member  of  the  Episcopal  church. 
His  wife  belongs  to  the  Catholic  Church.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Phi 
Delta  Theta  fraternity,  Michigan  Alpha  Chapter  at  Ann  Arbor,  Mich.,  and 
a  member  of  the  Phi  Beta  Kappa,  honorary  scholarship  fraternity  of 
Kenyon  College.  Mr.  Williams  belongs  to  the  Rotary  Club  and  the  Maple- 
wood  Country  Club  of  Bloomington.  The  Williams  family  is  one  of  the 
highly  esteemed  families  of  the  community. 


John  J.  Rolofson,  deceased,  was  a  widely  known  and  successful  auc- 
tioneer. He  was  born  in  Wilson  Township,  Dewitt  County,  111.,  Oct.  1, 
1862,  a  son  of  John  B.  Rolofson.  John  B.  Rolofson  was  born  in  White 
County,  111.,  June  23,  1829,  and  was  a  son  of  Moses  Rolofson,  a  native  of 
Kentucky,  born  in  1802.  He  was  a  pioneer  of  Illinois  and  a  son  of  Law- 
rence Rolofson,  who  was  a  native  of  Pennsylvania  and  was  a  cooper  by 
trade.  Lawrence  Rolofson  removed  from  his  native  state  to  Virginia 
and  later  went  to  Kentucky.  He  spent  his  last  days  in  Illinois  where  he 
lived  to  be  a  very  old  man.  Moses  Rolofson  lived  in  Kentucky  until  he 
was  about  25  years  of  age.  In  1823  he  came  to  Illinois  and  settled  in 
White  County  where  he  was  engaged  in  farming  until  1834  when  he  re- 
moved to  DeWitt  County,  remaining  there  one  year.  He  then  removed 
to  McLean  County  where  he  purchased  land,  but  after  remaining  a  few 
years  he  removed  to  Iowa  and  later  went  to  Missouri  where  he  died  in 
1885  at  the  age  of  83  years.  He  married  Ruth  McClellan,  a  native  of 
South  Carolina,  born  in  1800.  She  was  a  daughter  of  James  McClellan, 
a  native  of  South  Carolina  and  of  Irish  descent,  who  served  in  the  Revo- 
lutionary war.     Moses  Rolofson  and  his  wife  were  the  parents  of  twelve 


History  of  McLean  County  455 

children,  ten  of  whom  grew  to  maturity,  as  follows:  Mary,  Margaret  C, 
John  B.,  Jane,  Lucinda,  Robert,  Arminda,  Elizabeth,  Adeline  and  Lucy. 

John  B.  Rolofson  was  about  six  years  of  age  when  his  parents  settled 
in  DeWitt  County.  He  received  his  education  in  the  old  log  school  houses 
which  were  conducted  on  the  subscription  plan.  When  he  was  14  years 
of  age  he  began  working  out  by  the  month  and  so  continued  for  ten  years. 
He  then  bought  a  farm  and  added  more  land  later,  becoming  one  of  the 
prosperous  farmers  of  DeWitt  County.  He  was  married  Nov.  23,  1851,  to 
Miss  Mary  Bird,  a  native  of  White  County,  111.,  born  in  1831.  To  them 
were  born  six  children:  James  M.,  Mrs.  Laura  Swearingen,  Belle,  Mrs. 
Martha  E.  Thorp,  John  J.,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  and  Charles  S.  John 
B.  Rolofson  and  his  wife  were  members  of  the  Christian  Church  and  he 
was  a  Republican  and  took  a  prominent  part  in  the  affairs  of  his  com- 
munity. 

John  J.  Rolofson  spent  his  boyhood  on  his  father's  farm  in  Wilson 
Township,  DeWitt  County,  and  attended  the  district  schools.  In  1884  he 
engaged  in  farming  for  himself  on  rented  land  in  Wapella  Township.  He 
was  thus  occupied  for  six  years  and  in  1890  he  removed  to  Wapella  where 
he  engaged  in  the  hardware  and  farm  implement  business.  He  built  up 
an  extensive  trade  in  that  business  and  also  bought  and  sold  horses  from 
1892  to  1907.  On  June  30,  1897,  he  was  appointed  postmaster  of  Wa- 
pella, serving  three  terms  in  that  capacity.  For  many  years  Mr.  Rolof- 
son was  engaged  in  auctioneering  and  was  well  known  and  successful  in 
this  field  of  activity.  He  conducted  sales  over  a  large  scope  of  terri- 
tory and  his  services  were  in  constant  demand.  He  died  suddenly  Dec. 
9,  1923. 

On  Feb.  27,  1884,  John  J.  Rolofson  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Erne  M.  Wilson,  a  native  of  Wapella  Township,  DeWitt  County,  born  Dec. 
26,  1862,  and  a  daughter  of  John  and  Nancy  A.  (Funk)  Wilson,  early  set- 
tlers in  DeWitt  County.  Nancy  A.  Funk  Wilson  was  a  daughter  of  Jesse 
Funk,  a  prominent  early  day  citizen  of  McLean  County.  S.  A.  Wilson,  a 
brother  of  Mrs.  Rolofson,  lives  in  Los  Angeles,  Calif.,  and  a  half-brother, 
Wesley  E.  Thompson,  lives  at  Gardner,  Mont.  John  Wilson  died  in  1865 
and  his  wife  died  in  1882.  To  John  J.  and  Effie  M.  (Wilson)  Rolofson, 
were  born  two  children,  one  of  whom  died  in  infancy,  and  J.  J.  Rolofson, 
who  is  engaged  in  the  practice  of  law  at  Clinton,  111.  He  was  educated 
in  the  Clinton  High  School,  Wesleyan  University  of  Illinois  and  Yale 
University,  and  was  admitted  to  the  Illinois  bar  in  June,  1908.    Mrs.  Effie 


456  History  of  McLean  County 

M.  (Wilson)  Rolofson  died  Sept.  30,  1910.  She  was  a  lifelong  member  of 
the  Methodist  Church  and  a  member  of  the  Rathbim  Sisters.  She  was  a 
woman  known  for  her  many  excellent  qualities  and  loved  and  respected 
by  the  entire  community.  For  13  years  she  served  as  assistant  postmas- 
ter at  Wapella. 

Mr.  Rolofson  was  a  member  of  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fel- 
lows, a  32d  degree  Mason,  the  Uniformed  Rank  Knights  of  Pythias,  Mod- 
ern Woodmen  of  America  and  the  Benevolent  and  Protective  Order  of 
Elks.  He  was  a  Republican  and  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Church  and 
served  as  superintendent  of  Sunday  School  for  a  number  of  years. 


Thomas  Sylvester,  well  known  retired  brick  contractor  of  McLean 
County,  and  vice  president  of  the  Normal  State  Bank  at  Normal,  is  a 
native  of  England.  He  was  born  Jan.  26,  1846,  the  son  of  Thomas  and 
Elizabeth  (Simpson)  Sylvester.  There  were  six  sons  in  the  Sylvester 
family,  as  follows:  William,  lives  in  England;  John,  lives  at  Staffordshire, 
England;  George,  lives  at  Staffordshire,  England;  James,  deceased; 
Thomas,  the  subject  of  this  sketch;  and  Joseph,  lives  at  Champaign,  111. 

Thomas  Sylvester  received  his  education  in  the  schools  of  England, 
attending  Widenberry  School.  After  finishing  his  school  work  he  learned 
the  brick  mason  trade  with  his  uncle,  Rodger  Witicker,  and  followed  the 
trade  in  England  until  1869,  at  which  time  he  came  to  the  United  States. 
Mr.  Sylvester  was  employed  on  the  farm  of  Robert  Anderson  in  Park 
County,  111.,  until  May  13,  1869,  when  he  moved  to  Normal  and  engaged 
in  the  brick  laying  trade.  After  being  in  the  employ  of  Blake,  Huston  and 
Sweeting  at  Normal  for  one  year,  Mr.  Sylvester  went  into  the  contracting 
business  for  himself,  which  he  followed  until  1916,  at  which  time  he  re- 
tired. He  has  built  many  interesting  landmarks  in  McLean  County,  among 
them  being  the  Fell  Memorial.  Mr.  Sylvester  owns  240  acres  of  land  in 
Clay  County,  Minn.,  and  44  acres  within  the  city  limits  of  Normal.  He 
has  a  residence  at  Bloomington  as  well  as  a  home  on  Broadway  and  Ver- 
non Avenue  at  Normal,  and  he  also  owns  a  large  amount  of  the  business 
section  of  Normal. 

On  Oct.  27,  1871,  Mr.  Sylvester  was  married  to  Miss  Martha  Ellen 
Dunseth,  a  native  of  Money  Creek  Township,  McLean  County,  born  Jan. 
25,  1854.     To  this  union  12  children  were  born,  as  follows:  Frank,  lives 


History  of  McLean  County  457 

at  Webster  City,  la. ;  Thomas,  lives  in  Iowa ;  John,  lives  at  Normal ;  Wil- 
liam, lives  at  Normal;  Nettie,  married  Edward  Sheilds,  lives  at  Normal; 
Fannie  Burk  Pepple,  lives  at  Normal ;  Anna,  married  James  Lyda,  lives  at 
Bloomington ;  Louise,  married  Curtis  Keyes,  lives  at  Bloomington ;  Charles, 
lives  at  Normal;  Neil,  lives  at  Normal;  Elizabeth,  deceased;  and  Minnie, 
deceased,  was  the  wife  of  Clifton  Green.  After  the  death  of  his  first  wife 
on  Nov.  3,  1916,  Mr.  Sylvester  was  married  on  Oct.  29,  1921,  to  Miss  Jane 
Shirley,  a  native  of  Johnson  County,  Mo.,  born  March  6,  1854. 

In  politics  Mr.  Sylvester  is  a  Democrat  and  he  served  as  a  member 
of  the  city  council  of  Normal  for  11  years.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Chris- 
tian Church  and  laid  the  brick  for  that  church  at  Normal,  and  he  belongs 
to  the  Masonic  lodge.  Mr.  Sylvester  is  well  known  in  the  county,  where 
he  has  a  reputation  for  good  citizenship  and  progressive  ideas. 


Albert  F.  Henderson,  now  living  retired  in  Bloomington,  is  among 
the  substantial  and  well  known  citizens  of  McLean  County.  He  was  born 
in  Canada,  near  Montreal,  July  15,  1841.  At  the  age  of  19  years  he  went 
to  California  and  followed  gold  mining  for  two  years  after  which  he  re- 
turned to  Canada.  In  1864  he  came  to  McLean  County  and  located  at 
Towanda,  where  he  engaged  in  teaching  for  eight  years.  He  then  pur- 
chased a  farm  of  240  acres  near  Colfax,  111.,  which  he  operated  success- 
fully until  the  time  of  his  retirement  in  1910.  The  farm  is  now  owned 
by  his  son  Roy  Henderson. 

In  1873  Mr.  Henderson  was  married  to  Miss  Rachel  Fincham,  a 
daughter  of  Robert  and  Martha  Fincham,  natives  of  Virginia  and  early 
settlers  of  Illinois.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Henderson  the  following  children 
were  born:  Lillian,  lives  in  Chicago;  Pearl,  engaged  in  the  real  estate 
business  in  Mississippi ;  Dr.  Francis,  a  well  known  eye,  ear  and  nose 
specialist  of  Bloomington  with  offices  in  the  Griesheim  Building;  Archie, 
lives  at  Peoria,  111. ;  Ernest,  State  Attorney,  lives  in  Woodford  County, 
111. ;  Dr.  George,  a  successful  dentist  of  Bloomington,  also  located  in  the 
Griesheim  Building;  Addie,  married  Leonard  Funk,  lives  at  LaCrosse, 
Wis.,  and  Roy,  who  farms  the  home  place  near  Towanda,  111.  Mrs.  Hen- 
derson died  in  1897. 

Mr.  Henderson  served  as  supervisor  of  Colfax  for  five  years.     He  and 
his  family  are  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  and  he  belongs 


458  History  of  McLean  County 

to  the  Masonic  lodge.     The  Henderson  family  is  well  known  and  highly 
esteemed  in  McLean  County. 


Arthur  H.  Tobias,  manager  of  the  Bloomington  Creamery  Company, 
is  among  the  prominent  business  men  of  McLean  County.  He  was  born 
at  Congerville,  Woodford  County,  111.,  June  23,  1888,  and  is  the  son  of 
James  F.  and  Rosine  (Strubhar)  Tobias,  a  sketch  of  whom  appears  else- 
where in  this  volume. 

Arthur  H.  Tobias  spent  his  early  life  on  a  farm  near  Congerville,  111., 
and  was  educated  in  the  grade  schools  there  and  attended  Normal  High 
School.  He  later  lived  on  a  farm  near  Lexington,  111.,  and  for  the  past  12 
years  has  resided  at  Bloomington,  where  he  is  associated  in  business  with 
the  Bloomington  Creamery  Company. 

On  Dec.  21,  1910,  Mr.  Tobias  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Ida 
M.  Lehman,  a  native  of  Flanagan,  111.,  and  the  daughter  of  Joseph  A.  and 
Martha  A.  (Unzicker)  Lehman,  a  sketch  of  whom  also  appears  in  this 
volume.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Tobias  have  been  born  three  children:  Bernice 
Eleanor,  born  Oct.  1,  1914;  Louise  Frances,  born  Feb.  1,  1917;  and  Joseph 
Franklin,  born  Oct.  12,  1920. 

In  politics  Mr.  Tobias  is  identified  with  the  Republican  party.  He 
and  his  family  hold  membership  in  the  Mennonite  Church  and  he  is  a 
member  of  the  Masonic  Lodge,  being  a  32d  degree  Mason.  He  also  be- 
longs to  the  Rotary  Club.  Mr.  Tobias  has  been  successful  and  is  con- 
sidered one  of  Bloomington's  efficient  citizens. 


James  F.  Tobias  was  born  in  Walnut  Township,  Pickaway  County, 
Ohio,  Aug.  26,  1860.  His  father  died  shortly  after  his  birth  and  he  was 
reared  by  an  uncle,  Dan  Zinser  of  Washington,  111.  At  the  age  of  13 
years  he  made  his  home  with  Michael  Foster  of  Deer  Creek,  111.  At  the 
age  of  18  years  Mr.  Tobias  worked  out  by  the  month  in  the  vicinity  of 
Congerville,  111.,  where  he  became  acquainted  with  Rosine  Strubhar  and 
was  married  to  her  on  Dec.  13,  1883. 

Mr.  Tobias  and  Rosine  Tobias  spent  the  early  days  of  their  life  on 
the  farm,  later  opening  a  hardware  and  implement  business  at  Conger- 
ville, 111.,  which  they  operated  for  10  years,  after  which  they  purchased 


History  of  McLean  County  459 

a  farm  south  of  Congerville,  where  they  resided  two  years.  They  pur- 
chased a  farm  near  Lexington,  where  they  resided  until  the  death  of 
James  F.  Tobias,  which  occurred  April  8,  1910. 

Rosine  (Strubhar)  Tobias  was  born  in  Danvers  Township,  McLean 
County,  Feb.  2,  1863,  where  she  lived  to  maturity.'  To  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
James  F.  Tobias  were  born  three  children:  Arthur  H.,  a  sketch  of  whom 
appears  in  this  volume ;  Effie  May  and  Ida,  who  both  died  in  infancy. 
After  the  death  of  her  husband,  Mrs.  Tobias  resided  with  her  son,  Ar- 
thur H.,  until  her  death,  Feb.  8,  1918,  at  Bloomington. 


Valentine  Strubhar  was  born  in  Alsace  Lorraine,  France,  Sept.  26, 
1817.  At  the  age  of  17  years  he  immigrated  to  America  and  settled  in 
Ohio,  where  he  resided  for  several  years.  He  then  moved  to  Illinois, 
where  he  met  Barbara  Guingerich,  whom  he  married  in  the  year  1845. 
He  was  of  the  old  Mennonite  faith  and  was  one  of  the  founders  of  the 
first  Mennonite  churches  erected  in  Illinois.  One  of  these  churches,  lo- 
cated three  miles  north  of  Danvers,  is  still  standing.  Mr.  Strubhar  died 
Nov.  30,  1861,  at  the  age  of  64  years. 

Barbara  (Guingerich)  Strubhar  was  born  in  Alsace  Lorraine,  France, 
March  19,  1827.  Her  people  immigrated  to  America  in  1829,  and  settled 
in  Ohio,  later  moving  to  Danvers,  111.,  where  she  resided  until  1898,  then 
moving  to  Piper  City,  111.,  where  she  lived  with  her  daughter  until  the 
time  of  her  death,  which  occurred  March  26,  1923,  at  the  age  of  95  years. 
To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Valentine  Strubhar  seven  children  were  born:  John, 
lives  at  Danvers,  111. ;  Magdalene  Salzman,  lived  at  Danvers,  111.,  and  now 
deceased;  Emil  E.,  lives  in  California;  Peter  A.,  lives  at  Murray,  Iowa; 
Mrs.  John  Schaff er,  lived  at  Deer  Creek,  111.,  now  deceased ;  Mrs.  Elizabeth 
Ehresman,  lives  at  Piper  City,  111. ;  and  Mrs.  Rosine  Tobias,  deceased. 


Joseph  A.  Lehmann,  a  well  known  and  successful  farmer  of  McLean 
County,  living  at  Chenoa,  was  born  five  miles  north  of  Bloomington,  April 
2,  1863,  the  son  of  Peter  and  Magdalena  (Stalter)  Lehmann. 

Peter  Lehmann  was  a  native  of  Alsace  Loraine,  France,  and  his  wife 
was  born  at  Bavaria,  Germany.     At  an  early  date  Mr.  Lehmann  came 


460  History  of  McLean  County 

to  this  country  and  located  on  a  farm  near  Danvers,  111.,  later  removing 
to  a  farm  near  Bloomington.  In  1866  he  went  to  Livingston  County,  111., 
and  lived  on  a  farm  near  Gridley  and  later  lived  near  Flanagan,  where 
he  died.  There  were  six  children  in  the  Lehmann  family:  Jacobina  Ver- 
cler,  lives  at  Meadows,  111.;  Peter  R.,  born  Dec;  3,  1861,  died  Jan.  4,  1901; 
Joseph  A.,  the  subject  of  this  sketch ;  Ella  Rich,  lives  at  Deer  Creek,  111. ; 
Elizabeth  Zehr,  lives  at  Graymont,  111. ;  and  Dr.  C.  W.,  lives  at  Flanagan,  111. 

Joseph  A.  Lehmann  was  reared  and  educated  in  Livingston  County, 
111.,  and  has  always  been  a  farmer.  On  Feb.  3,  1887,  he  was  united  in  mar- 
riage at  Danvers  with  Miss  Martha  Amelia  Unzicker,  a  native  of  Lexing- 
ton, 111.,  and  the  daughter  of  Joseph  and  Magdalena  (Smucker)  Unzicker, 
the  former  a  native  of  Canada  and  the  latter  of  France.  Mr.  Unzicker 
died  Oct.  28,  1909,  and  his  wife  died  July  23,  1906.  To  Joseph  A.  and 
Martha  Amelia  (Unzicker)  Lehmann  the  following  chidren  were  born: 
Emma  M.  Augspurger,  born  March  11,  1888;  Martha  Amelia  Schrock, 
born  Jan.  11,  1890;  Ida  M.  Tobias,  born  Jan.  8,  1892;  Pearl  E.  Zimmer- 
man, born  June  18,  1893;  Joseph  P.,  born  Dec.  21,  1894;  Matilda  E.  Por- 
zelius,  born  Oct.  10,  1898 ;  and  Magdalena  I.  Zehr,  born  April  27,  1904. 

Mr.  Lehmann  is  a  Republican  and  he  and  his  family  are  members  of 
the  Mennonite  Church. 


Louis  W.  Dauel,  who  is  successfully  engaged  in  the  reaLestate  and 
insurance  business  in  Bloomington,  is  a  native  of  Germany.  He  was 
born  in  Hanover,  Dec.  11,  1861,  and  is  a  son  of  Frederick  and  Dorothy 
(Gathmann)  Dauel. 

Frederick  Dauel  and  his  wife  died  when  Louis  W.,  the  subject  of 
this  sketch,  was  a  young  boy.  They  were  the  parents  of  the  following 
children:  Mary,  died  at  the  age  of  22  years;  Frederick,  died  in  infancy; 
Louise,  died  in  1919,  was  the  wife  of  August  Wichmann;  Henry,  lives  in 
Los  Angeles,  Calif. ;  F.  W.,  lives  in  St.  Paul,  Minn. ;  and  Louis  W.,  the 
subject  of  this  sketch. 

When  Louis  W.  Dauel  was  13  years  old  he  and  his  brother  came  to 
the  United  States  and  lived  with  their  older  brother,  a  farmer  in  Mc- 
Lean County.  After  two  years  he  went  to  Iowa  and  worked  on  a  farm, 
and  five  years  later  Mr.  Dauel  returned  to  Illinois.  He  engaged  in  the 
hardware  and  implement  business  for  a  number  of  years  and  met  with 


History  of  McLean  County  461 

success.  In  1899  he  came  to  Bloomington  and  became  deputy  sheriff  of 
McLean  County,  which  office  he  held  for  two  years.  He  then  became 
manager  of  the  Darlington  Lumber  Co.  at  Arrowsmith,  111.,  for  three  and 
one-half  years,  then  purchased  the  business  of  August  Boeker  in  Bloom- 
ington. Mr.  Dauel  does  a  large  volume  of  business  in  real  estate,  insur- 
ance, and  loans  and  his  office  is  located  in  the  Corn  Belt  Bank  Bldg.  He 
owns  a  fine  residence  in  Bloomington  beside  other  city  property. 

On  March  27,  1883,  Mr.  Dauel  was  married  to  Miss  Emma  M.  George, 
a  daughter  of  Henry  and  Anna  (Schlueter)  George,  the  former  a  native 
of  Germany.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dauel  seven  children  have  been  born,  as 
follows:  Minnie  was  the  wife  of  Martin  Homuth,  died  in  1918,  leaving 
one  child,  Dorothy;  Louise,  married  Godfrey  Olson,  lives  in  Bloomington, 
and  they  have  three  children,  Ralph,  Robert  and  Margaret;  Henry,  an 
engineer  on  the  Chicago  &  Alton  Railroad,  had  two  children,  Evelyn  and 
Lois;  William,  lives  in  Bloomington;  Rose  married  Elmer  Peterson  who 
died  in  1914,  Mrs.  Peterson  now  making  her  home  with  her  parents ; 
Lillian,  married  Walter  Miller,  a  jeweler  in  Bloomington;  and  Alvina, 
married  Virgil  Bierbower. 

Mr.  Dauel  was  president  of  the  Real  Estate  Board  of  Bloomington 
and  is  the  agent  for  several  steamship  lines.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Trinity  Lutheran  Church  and  is  a  substantial  and  reliable  citizen  of 
Bloomington. 


Joseph  F.  Rice,  who  is  successfully  engaged  in  the  real  estate  business 
in  Bloomington,  is  a  member  of  one  of  McLean  County's  pioneer  families. 
He  was  born  in  Bloomington,  March  13,  1872,  and  is  the  son  of  Charles 
and  Lena  (Schneckloth)  Rice. 

Charles  Rice  was  born  in  Mecklenburg,  Schwereing,  Germany,  Nov. 
22,  1830,  and  his  wife  was  born  at  Schonberg,  Germany,  Aug.  15,  1845. 
In  1849  Mr.  Rice  came  to  this  country  and  first  settled  in  LaSalle  County, 
and  in '1872  located  on  a  farm  in  Bloomington  Township,  McLean  County, 
where  they  lived  for  many  years.  Mr.  Rice  became  a  successful  farmer 
and  was  a  bee-keeper  also.  He  served  throughout  the  Civil  War  in  Com- 
pany I,  104th  Regiment,  Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry.  He  was  highway 
commissioner  of  Bloomington  Township  for  a  number  of  years,  and  died 
Feb.  28,  1910.     His  wife  lives  in  Bloomington  with  her  daughter,  Mrs. 


462  History  of  McLean  County 

Lena  H.  Scott,  504  E.  Taylor  Street.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Rice  three  chil- 
dren were  born,  as  follows:  Joseph  F.,  the  subject  of  this  sketch;  Lena 
H.,  married  P.  E.  Scott;  and  Regina  E.,  married  Bert  H.  Castle,  lives  on 
a  farm  near  Mackinaw,  111. 

Joseph  F.  Rice  spent  his  boyhood  on  his  father's  farm  and  received 
his  education  in  the  Price  school  and  also  attended  Evergreen  City  Busi- 
ness College  in  Bloomington.  After  engaging  in  general  farming  for  a 
number  of  years,  Mr.  Rice  traveled  for  the  patent  medicine  company  of 
Dr.  Falone.  Five  years  later  he  became  interested  in  the  gardening  busi- 
ness and  soon  after  entered  real  estate,  in  which  he  has  been  most  suc- 
cessful. 

In  politics  Mr.  Rice  is  identified  with  the  Republican  party.  He 
served  as  highway  commissioner  of  Bloomington  Township  for  six  years, 
and  was  elected  supervisor  one  term  and  re-elected  for  the  second  term, 
resigning  to  take  the  office  of  County  Treasurer,  having  been  elected  in 
November,  1914,  which  office  he  held  for  a  term  of  four  years.  Mr.  Rice 
is  unmarried.  He  is  among  the  substantial  and  highly  esteemed  citizens 
of  his  community. 


David  A.  BroLeen  is  a  well  known  and  highly  esteemed  business  man 
of  Bloomington.  He  was  born  in  Sweden,  Dec.  15,  1873,  and  is  the  son 
of  Andrew  and  Mary  (Sjoberg)  BroLeen,  natives  of  Sweden,  and  now 
deceased.  There  were  four  children  in  the  BroLeen  family:  John,  a 
machinist,  lives  in  Sweden;  Hulda,  married  Mr.  Fridell;  Frank,  a  mer- 
chant tailor,  lives  at  Pontiac,  111. ;  and  D.  A.,  the  subject  of  this  sketch. 

D.  A.  BroLeen  was  reared  and  educated  in  Sweden  and  came  to  this 
country  at  the  age  of  20  years.  He  located  at  Des  Moines,  Iowa,  where  he 
worked  a't  his  trade  for  a  number  of  years,  and  in  1899  he  removed  to 
Bloomington,  where  he  entered  the  employ  of  George  W.  DuNah,  Since 
1904  Mr.  BroLeen  has  been  a  member  of  the  firm  of  BroLeen  &  DuNah, 
merchant  tailors,  and  they  are  located  at  106  W.  Washington  Street. 

In  1904,  Mr.  BroLeen  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Hannah  Bets- 
berg,  a  native  of  Sweden  who  came  to  America  at  the  age  of  three  years. 
She  is  the  daughter  of  Carl  G.  and  Amelia  (Goss)  Betsberg,  who  came 
to  this  country  in  1843,  and  are  now  deceased.     To  D.  A.  and  Hanna 


History  of  McLean  County  463 

(Betsberg)    BroLee  one   daughter  has  been  born,   Gladys,   who  will  be 
graduated  from  Bloomington  High  School  in  June,  1924. 

Mr.  BroLeen  and  his  family  are  members  of  the  First  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church,  and  he  is  identified  with  the  Masonic  Lodge  and  Con- 
sistory, the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  the  Rotary  Club,  and  the 
McLean  County  Country  Club. 


Marion  L.  McClure,  who  resides  at  Bloomington,  is  a  large  landowner 
of  McLean  County  and  a  successful  farmer  and  stockman.  He  was  born 
in  McLean  County,  Dec.  6,  1854,  and  is  the  son  of  Samuel  and  Delilah 
(Orendorf)  McClure. 

Samuel  McClure  followed  farming  for  a  number  of  years  and  died 
February,  1858.  His  widow  and  five  children  then  moved  to  Hopedale 
Township.  The  children  were  as  follows:  Aaron  B.,  born  Dec.  3,  1848, 
lives  retired  at  Hopedale;  Samuel  A.,  lives  retired  in  Kansas;  William  R., 
died  in  1904;  Marion  L.,  the  subject  of  this  sketch;  and  Milton  B.,  who 
died  in  1921. 

Marion  L.  McClure  received  his  education  in  the  district  schools  of 
Hopedale  Township  and  when  he  was  16  years  old  his  mother  died.  He 
then  went  to  live  with  Frank  Orendorf  until  he  was  20  years  old,  at  which 
time  he  rented  a  farm  from  his  brother,  Samuel.  Later,  however,  he 
went  to  Chicago  for  a  short  time  and  upon  his  return  again  engaged  in 
general  farming  and  stock  raising,  and  lived  on  a  farm  until  1892,  at 
which  time  he  moved  to  Bloomington  to  educate  his  children.  Mr.  Mc- 
Clure owns  a  fine  home  facing  Franklin  Park  on  Prairie  Avenue. 

On  Sept.  20,  1877,  Mr.  McClure  was  married  to  Miss  Arabelle  S. 
Stephenson,  a  native  of  Ohio,  born  Aug.  9,  1857,  and  the  daughter  of 
David  and  Elizabeth  (Jewell)  Stephenson,  natives  of  Ohio  and  early  set- 
tlers of  Illinois,  having  come  here  in  1859.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  McClure  had  the 
following  children:  Lee,  cashier  of  the  First  National  Bank  of  Dan- 
vers,  111.,  married  Elizabeth  Powell,  a  native  of  Mexico,  Mo.,  and  they 
have  two  sons,  Marion  Lee  and  David  Stephenson;  Elizabeth  D.,  married 
Hiram  Bicket,  lives  in  Chicago  and  they  have  four  children,  Marion  Mc- 
Clure, Eleanor,  James  Hiram,  and  Jane.  Mrs.  McClure  is  a  member  of  the 
Daughters  of  the  American  Revolution.   Mr.  and  Mrs.  McClure  are  mem- 


464  History  of  McLean  County 

bers  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  at  Danvers  and  they  are  highly  respected 
citizens  of  McLean  County. 

Mr.  McClure  has  always  been  a  heavy  investor  in  farm  land  and  now 
he  and  his  wife  own  over  3,000  acres  of  land  in  Illinois,  Iowa,  Missouri  and 
Mississippi,  and  have  given  each  of  their  children  large  farms  in  Iowa  and 
Mississippi. 


Joseph  E.  Richmond,  a  prosperous  farmer  of  McLean  County,  who 
resides  at  Normal,  is  the  owner  of  well  improved  land  in  Tazewell  and 
Logan  counties,  111.  He  was  born  on  a  farm  in  Tazewell  County,  111.,  Feb. 
18,  1857,  the  son  of  Wilson  and  Emily  (Fisher)  Richmond. 

The  Richmond  family  originally  came  from  Ohio,  where  Wilson  Rich- 
mond was  born,  Dec.  8,  1815,  in  Zanesville.  In  1830  he  came  to  Illinois 
and  engaged  in  farming  and  stock  raising  in  Tazewell  County,  and  be- 
came well-to-do.  He  died  June  19,  1908.  His  wife,  who  was  born  in 
Dillon  Township,  Tazewell  County,  Jan.  20,  1829,  lives  in  Tazewell  County 
and  is  95  years  of  age.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Richmond  were  the  parents  of  nine 
children,  of  whom,  Joseph  E.,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  the  second 
in  order  of  birth. 

Joseph  E.  Richmond  grew  up  on  his  father's  farm  and  received  his 
education  in  the  district  schools  of  Tazewell  County  and  also  attended 
Brown  Business  College  in  Jacksonville,  111.,  from  which  he  was  graduated 
in  1876.  Two  eminent  men,  William  Jennings  Bryan  and  Senator  Richard 
Yates,  former  governor  of  Illinois,  were  debators  in  the  Brown's  Business 
College,  while  Mr.  Richmond  attended  that  college.  After  finishing  his 
school  work,  Mr.  Richmond  engaged  in  farming  and  in  1881  purchased  80 
acres  of  land  at  $40.00  per  acre.  Several  years  later  he  added  80  more 
acres  at  $50.00  per  acre,  and  in  1892  he  purchased  157  acres  for  $12,000. 
Mr.  Richmond  sold  hogs  for  $2.25  per  hundred  pounds  and  corn  for  16 
cents  per  bushel.  He  has  lived  at  Normal  since  1901,  but  still  owns  his 
farms. 

Mr.  Richmond  was  married  on  Feb.  3,  1881,  to  Miss  Emma  Britt,  a 
native  of  Logan  County,  111.,  born  Sept.  8,  1859,  and  the  daughter  of  W.  S. 
and  Sallie  (Burt)  Britt,  the  former  a  native  of  Bowling  Green,  Ky.,  and 
the  latter  of  Tazewell  County,  111.     One  child  was  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs. 


MRS.    EMMA    BR1TT    RICHMOND. 


JOSEPH    E.    RICHMOND. 


■«Hjfef-iWS^lr 

■L 

m  ^m  0 

------ 

....... 

j 

MISS  OLLIE   RICHMOND   NANCE. 


MRS.   OLT.TR   RICHMOND   NANCE. 


History  of  McLean  County  465 

Richmond,  Ollie,  born  Jan.  1,  1886,  and  she  died  Dec.  27,  1918.  She  was 
a  graduate  of  Normal  High  School  and  Oberlin  College,  Oberlin,  Ohio,  and 
married  Ross  A.  Nance,  June  12,  1917.  One  child  was  born  to  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Nance,  Ollie  Richmond  Nance,  born  Dec.  24,  1918,  and  she  lives  with 
her  father,  a  merchant,  at  Petersburg,  111. 

In  politics  Mr.  Richmond  is  a  Republican  and  he  is  a  member  of  the 
Christian  Church.  He  is  a  man  of  industry  and  ability  who  has  made  a 
success  of  his  work. 


Rev.  Edward  V.  Young,  pastor  of  the  Grace  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  of  Bloomington,  is  a  leading  and  influential  citizen  of  McLean 
County.  He  was  born  at  Carlinville,  111.,  May  31,  1883,  and  is  the  son  of 
Peter  and  Augusta  (Gunterburg)  Young. 

Peter  Young  was  born  and  reared  on  a  farm  in  Macoupin  County, 
III,  near  Carlinville.  After  living  on  the  same  farm  for  60  years,  he 
retired  and  moved  to  Carlinville,  where  he  and  his  wife  now  reside.  They 
are  the  parents  of  the  following  children :  William  J.  and  Mrs.  Elsie  Sen- 
sel,  live  at  Carlinville;  Leo  and  Anita  live  at  Carlinville;  Mrs.  Nellie  Mer- 
raman,  lives  at  Springfield,  111. ;  and  Rev.  Edward  V.,  the  subject  of  this 
sketch. 

Rev.  Edward  V.  Young  was  reared  on  his  father's  farm  and  received 
his  early  education  in  the  country  grade  schools.  He  is  a  graduate  of 
Blackburn  Academy,  at  Carlinville,  Illinois  Wesleyan  University,  and  the 
Drew  Theological  Seminary  at  Madison,  N.  J.  Reverend  Young  was  only 
20  years  of  age  when  he  was  received  into  the  Illinois  Conference  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  He  has  served  the  following  pastorates  in 
the  Illinois  Conference:  1904,  Shiloh;  1905-1909,  Thayer;  1910,  Spring- 
field First  Church  (assistant  pastor);  1911  at  school;  1912,  Westfield; 
1913-1914,  Williamsville ;  1915-1918,  Moweaqua;  1919-1922,  Shelbyville, 
First.  In  September,  1923,  Reverend  Young  became  pastor  of  the  Grace 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  in  Bloomington. 

On  Sept.  6,  1911,  Reverend  Young  was  united  in  marriage  at  Spring- 
field, 111.,  with  Miss  MaryC.  Galeener,  a  native  of  Warsaw,  111.,  and  the 
daughter  of  Rev.  Chris  and  Talitha  C.  (Kilgore)  Galeener,  the  former  a 
native  of  Green  County,  Ohio,  and  the  latter  of  Vermilion  County,  111.. 

(28) 


466  History  of  McLean  County 

Reverend  and  Mrs.  Galeener  reside  at  Carrollton,  111.  To  Reverend  and 
Mrs.  Young  three  children  have  been  born,  Margaret,  Marita  and  Esther. 
They  are  eleven,  nine  and  seven  years  of  age,  respectively. 

Reverend  Young  is  a  Republican  and  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic 
Lodge  and  Bloomington  Consistory,  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fel- 
lows and  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America.  He  and  his  family  are  well 
and  favorably  known  in  Bloomington. 


John  P.  Shields,  a  substantial  citizen  of  Bloomington,  was  born  in 
Bloomington,  111.,  Jan.  19,  1881,  and  is  the  son  of  Patrick  and  Mary 
(Christy)  Shields. 

Patrick  Shields  and  his  wife  were  both  born  in  Ireland  and  after 
their  marriage  in  1865  came  to  this  country,  settling  in  Bloomington.  Mr. 
Shields  was  employed  in  the  shops  of  the  Chicago  &  Alton  Railroad  for 
many  years  and  was  crippled  when  he  was  struck  by  a  train.  His  wife 
is  deceased.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Shields  seven  children  were  born,  as  follows : 
Catherine,  married  Robert  Litford;  Mary;  John  P.,  the  subject  of  this 
sketch;  Edward,  a  machinist  in  the  Chicago  &  Alton  Railroad  shops; 
James,  lives  in  Bloomington;  Frank,  also  a  resident  of  Bloomington;  and 
Elizabeth,  married  Paul  Coogan,  lives  in  Bloomington. 

John  P.  Shields  was  reared  and  educated  in  Bloomington,  where  he 
has  always  lived.  On  Oct.  20,  1915,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Agnes  Kath- 
erine  O'Neil,  a  daughter  of  Daniel  O'Neil,  a  sketch  of  whom  appears  else- 
where in  this  history.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Shields  two  children  have  been 
born:  Elizabeth  Pyne,  born  June  4,  1918;  and  Joan  Katherine,  born  April 
6,  1920. 

Mr.  Shields  is  a  member  of  the  Knights  of  Columbus  and  he  and  his 
family  belong  to  the  Catholic  Church. 


Julius  P.  Klemm,  secretary  of  the  C.  W.  Klemm,  Incorporated,  of 
Bloomington,  is  an  enterprising  young  business  man  and  a  veteran  of  the 
World  War.  He  was  born  in  Bloomington,  Nov.  20,  1890,  and  is  the  son  of 
C.  W.  and  Emelia  (Bender)  Klemm.  A  biographical  sketch  of  C.  W.  Klemm 
and  his  family  appears  elsewhere  in  this  volume. 


History  of  McLean  County  467 

Julius  P.  Klemm  was  reared  and  educated  in  Blooming-ton  and 
started  life  as  an  office  boy  for  J.  F.  Humphreys  &  Company.  He  has  been 
associated  in  business  with  his  father  for  a  number  of  years  and  has 
charge  of  the  wholesale  department. 

On  June  1,  1917,  Mr.  Klemm  enlisted  for  service  during  the  World 
War  and  received  the  commission  of  lieutenant.  He  received  his  training 
at  Camp  Logan,  Houston,  Texas,  and  Camp  Hancock,  Augusta,  Ga.  He 
was  discharged  on  Nov.  28,  1918. 

Mr.  Klemm  was  married  on  May  14,  1919,  to  Miss  Carita  Wayne,  a 
native  of  Delavan,  111.,  and  the  daughter  of  Edwin  M.  and  Harriet  (Bai- 
ley) Wayne,  natives  of  Illinois  and  residents  of  Delavan.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Klemm  have  one  daughter,  Martha  Bender,  born  June  18,  1922. 

In  politics  Mr.  Klemm  is  identified  with  the  Republican  party.  He  is 
a  member  of  the  Unitarian  Church  and  his  wife  belongs  to  the  Presby- 
terian Church.  Mr.  Klemm  belongs  to  the  Masonic  Lodge,  and  the  Phi 
Kappa  Psi  fraternity  of  the  University  of  Illinois.  He  and  his  wife  are 
favorably  known  in  Bloomington  and  have  a  wide  circle  of  friends  and 
acquaintances. 


C.  W.  Klemm,  who  ranks  among  the  leading  and  successful  business 
men  of  Illinois,  is  a  pioneer  merchant  of  Bloomington.  He  was  born  in 
Haynrode,  Germany,  and  came  to  this  country  in  1868,  locating  at 
Springfield,  111.,  where  he  entered  the  employ  of  the  C.  A.  Gehrman  Com- 
pany. Five  years  later  he  came  to  Bloomington  and  rented  a  store  room 
two  doors  east  of  the  intersection  of  Center  and  Jefferson  Streets.  The 
fiftieth  anniversary  of  the  business  was  celebrated  on  Nov.  7,  1923. 

When  Mr.  Klemm  first  opened  for  business,  he  economized  in  expenses 
by  sleeping  in  a  room  over  the  store  and  boarded  at  what  was  known  as 
the  St.  Nicholas  Hotel,  afterwards  the  Butler.  Some  of  his  companions 
of  those  early  days  were  Lyman  Graham,  E.  H.  Aldrich,  Jacob  Heldman 
and  others,  later  prominent  in  Bloomington's  business  life.  He  bought 
a  store  building  from  A.  Fitzwilliam  and  later  the  store  adjacent  to  Mc- 
Conkey,  and  rebuilt  as  fast  as  possible.  In  the  fire  of  1900  the  entire 
double  store  building  was  destroyed,  but  within  seven  months  a  new 
building  was  erected,  modern  in  every  respect.  The  wholesale  depart- 
ment is  located  on  North  Center  Street,  between  Jefferson  and  Monroe  and 


4G8  History  of  McLean  County 

which  also  shelters  the  overall  and  shirt  factory.  There  is  a  branch  in 
operation  at  Leroy.  In  1920  the  building  to  the  west  of  the  present  retail 
store  was  taken  on  a  long  time  lease  and  is  known  as  the  Annex,  and  in 
1920  the  Evans  building,  adjacent  to  the  east,  was  purchased  and  even- 
tually will  be  added  to  the  store  for  housing  additional  departments. 

The  Klemm  establishment,  which  compares  favorably  with  the  most 
extensive  of  any  in  a  similar  field  in  central  Illinois,  employs  a  force  of 
100  people  in  the  retail  department  and  an  equal  number  in  the  whole- 
sale department. 

Mr.  C.  W.  Klemm  was  united  in  marriage  with  Augusta  Seibel,  in 
the  fall  of  1874;  she  died  12  years  later;  by  this  marriage  three  children 
were  born,  now  living,  Mrs.  Helen  Howard,  Mrs.  Charles  Agle  and  Carl 
H.  Klemm.  His  second  marriage  was  to  Miss  Emilia  Bender,  a  native  of 
Peoria,  111.,  who  died  June  7,  1921.  To  this  union  one  child  was  born, 
Julius  P.,  a  sketch  of  whom  appears  in  this  volume. 

Carl  H.  Klemm  is  at  the  head  of  the  retail  department  of  the  fa- 
ther's business  and  Julius  P.  has  charge  of  the  wholesale.  They  have  been 
thoroughly  impregnated  with  the  same  high  ideals  of  commercial  in- 
tegrity and  acumen  and  will  doubtless  worthily  maintain  the  establish- 
ment founded  by  their  parent,  and  of  which  he  is  yet  actively  a  part. 

C.  W.  Klemm's  career  is  unique  in  that  his  whole  life  is  centered 
in  his  business.  He  has  never  thought  it  necessary  to  seek  relaxation. 
His  establishment  has  been  paramount  and  his  whole  soul  has  been  cen- 
tered in  its  welfare.  It  has  been  his  life  work  and  now  at  the  close  of  50 
years  he  has  reason  to  feel  proud  of  what  he  has  accomplished.  Satis- 
fied customers  and  confidence,  due  to  fair  dealing,  have  been  important 
factors  in  the  success  of  the  enterprise. 


Dr.  Charles  P.  Hanson,  well  known  and  successful  osteopathic  phy- 
sician of  Bloomington,  is  a  native  of  McLean  County.  He  was  born  at 
Gridley,  July  31,  1877,  and  is  the  son  of  P.  -M.  and  Amanda  (Coon) 
Hanson. 

P.  M.  Hanson  and  his  wife  were  born  in  Ohio.  They  removed  to  Illi- 
nois in  early  life,  where  Mr.  Hanson  farmed  for  u  number  of  years.  He 
later  became  a  merchant  at  Fifer,  111.,  and  now  resides  at  Normal,  where 
he  is  engaged  in  the  real  estate  and  insurance  business.     His  wife  died 


History  of  McLean  County  469 

Aug.  29,  1923,  and  is  buried  at  Kappa,  111.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hanson 
seven  children  were  born,  as  follows:  Frank  Owen,  lives  in  White  Place, 
Bloomington ;  Dr.  Charles  P.,  the  subject  of  this  sketch;  Herbert,  lives 
on  Linden  Street,  Normal ;  William  Cassel,  lives  in  Washington,  D.  C. ; 
Archie  M.,  lives  at  Lincoln,  111. ;  Rachel  Hodgkinson,  lives  at  Normal ;  and 
Dorothy  Lynch,  lives  at  Normal. 

Dr.  Charles  P.  Hanson  received  his  education  in  the  public  and  high 
schools  of  Gridley  and  attended  Illinois  Wesleyan  University,  and  the 
University  of  Illinois,  graduated  from  the  American  School  of  Osteopathy 
at  Kirksville,  Mo.  Before  taking  up  the  study  of  osteopathy,  Dr.  Hanson 
taught  school  for  several  years.  He  received  his  degree  from  the  Amer- 
ican School  of  Osteopathy  in  June,  1910,  and  since  that  time  has  been 
located  in  Bloomington,  where  he  has  established  a  large  practice. 

On  Sept.  28,  1910,  Dr.  Hanson  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Ber- 
nice  Bright,  a  native  of  Normal,  and  the  daughter  of  Reuben  G.  and  Sarah 
(Dillon)  Bright,  natives  of  Illinois.  Mr.  Bright  resides  in  Normal  and 
his  wife  is  deceased.    Dr.  and  Mrs.  Hanson  have  no  children. 

In  politics  Dr.  Hanson  is  identified  with  the  Republican  party.  He  is 
trustee  of  the  Illinois  Osteopathic  Association  and  a  charter  member  and 
first  president  of  the  Bloomington  Kiwanis  Club.  He  belongs  to  the  Ma- 
sonic Lodge,  Bloomington  Consistory  and  Ansar  Shrine.  Dr.  and  Mrs. 
Hanson  are  members  of  the  First  Christian  Church  and  are  favorably 
known  in  McLean  County.  The  family  residence  is  at  1011  Broadway, 
Normal. 


John  T.  Lillard  has  practiced  law  in  Bloomington  since  1874.  He 
was  born  in  Boyle  County,  near  Danville,  Ky.,  April  1,  1852,  a  son  of 
Thomas  Madison  and  Mary  (Bright)  Lillard.  His  education  began  under 
private  tutors  in  the  home  of  his  parents,  then  after  two  years  in  the  col- 
lege preparatory,  he  entered  Centre  College,  Danville,  Ky.,  where  he  was 
graduated  in  1872  with  the  degree  of  Bachelor  of  Arts.  In  June,  1906, 
he  received  from  Illinois  Wesleyan  University  the  honorary  degree  of 
Master  of  Arts. 

He  settled  in  Bloomington  in  August,  1873.  After  some  previous 
legal  preparation  he  read  law  in  the  office  of  Williams  and  Burr,  was  ad- 
mitted to  practice  in  September,  1874,  and  has  ever  since  been  a  member 


470  History  of  McLean  County 

of  the  Bloomington  Bar.  His  law  offices  are  in  the  First  National  Bank 
Building.  Since  1890  he  has  been  the  senior  member  of  the  law  firm  of 
Lillard  and  Williams. 

Mr.  Lillard  was  married  in  1878  to  Miss  Sallie  Elizabeth  Williams, 
daughter  of  Robert  E.  Williams,  a  Bloomington  lawyer.  She  died  on 
May  8,  1907.  In  October,  1908,  Mr.  Lillard  was  married  to  his  present 
wife,  Sarah  Davis  Lillard,  daughter  of  Judge  David  Davis,  during  his 
lifetime  distinguished  locally  and  nationally. 

In  1889  Mr.  Lillard  with  others  organized  the  Union  Gas  and  Elec- 
tric Company,  was  its  vice-president  for  seven  years,  and  is  still  its  attor- 
ney. In  1891  he  organized  the  Manufactured  Ice  and  Cold  Storage  Com- 
pany, and  was  its  president  for  13  years.  He  with  others  organized  the 
Kinloch-Bloomington  Telephone  Company  and  has  ever  since  been  its 
president.     In  addition  to  his  profession  he  has  other  business  interests. 

He  served  as  city  attorney  for  two  terms.  He  has  been  connected 
with  the  board  of  trustees  of  Illinois  Wesleyan  University,  and  the  Board 
of  Trustees  of  the  Bloomington  City  Library.  He  and  his  wife  are  mem- 
bers of  the  First  Christian  Church  of  Bloomington. 


N.  B.  Carson,  County  Recorder  of  Deeds  in  McLean  County,  was  born 
near  New  Lexington,  Ohio,  May  2,  1856,  and  is  a  son  of  Hiram  and  Harriet 
(Bell)  Carson. 

The  Carson  family  originally  came  from  the  North  of  Ireland  and 
were  among  the  early  settlers  of  Virginia.  James  B.  Carson,  grandfather 
of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  born  in  Philadelphia,  in  1869,  and  was 
six  years  old  at  the  time  the  Declaration  of  Independence  was  signed; 
he  remembered  distinctly  of  hearing  the  ringing  of  the  Independence  bell. 
He  was  a  woodworker  by  trade  and  during  the  War  of  1812  was  employed 
by  the  government  in  the  arsenal  at  Harper's  Ferry,  Va.  He  later  moved 
his  family  to  Brownsville,  Pa.,  and  after  a  short  residence  there  to  Mus- 
kingum County,  Ohio,  in  1833,  where  he  and  his  wife  spent  the  remainder 
of  their  lives. 

Hiram  Carson  was  a  glass  blower  by  trade  and  later  engaged  in  farm- 
ing. He  came  to  Illinois  with  his  family  in  1872  and  died  in  1885.  His 
wife  died  the  same  year  and  they  are  both  buried  at  Bellflower,  111.  She 
was  the  daughter  of  Nemihah  Bell  (formerly  spelled  Beall),  a  native  of 


History  of  McLean  County  471 

Maryland,  who  was  also  employed  by  the  government  in  the  arsenal  at 
Harper's  Ferry,  Va.,  as  a  gunsmith.  He  came  to  Ohio  in  1819,  settling 
in  Muskingum  County. 

N.  B.  Carson  was  one  of  two  children  born  to  his  parents.  A  brother, 
J.  W.,  died  near  Burlington,  Iowa,  several  years  ago.  Mr.  Carson  was  16 
years  of  age  when  his  family  came  to  Illinois  and  settled  in  McLean 
County.  He  was  reared  on  a  farm  and  received  his  education  in  the  pub- 
lic school.  He  followed  farming  until  he  was  25  years  of  age,  and  then 
engaged  in  the  mercantile  business  at  Delana,  in  West  Township,  McLean 
County.  He  was  later  in  business  at  Bellflower  and  remained  there  until 
1892  when  he  came  to  Bloomington.  After  being  employed  as  a  clerk  he 
was  elected  coroner  in  1896  and  served  in  this  capacity  eight  years.  In 
1904  he  was  elected  county  recorder  of  deeds  and  since  that  time  has 
been  elected  five  successive  terms. 

Mr.  Carson  was  married  on  July  4,  1877,  to  Miss  Hattie  Eva  Brad- 
bury, a  native  of  Indiana,  and  resident  of  Bellflower,  111.  She  was  the 
daughter  of  William  T.  Bradbury,  at  one  time  supervisor  of  Bellflower 
and  prominent  in  politics.  Mrs.  Carson  died  in  1886  and  was  buried 
in  Bellflower.  To  that  marriage  four  children  were  born,  as  follows: 
Charles  T.,  lives  in  San  Diego,  Cal. ;  Kate,  deceased;  Pearl,  married  Rob- 
ert Carson,  lives  in  Portland,  Ore. ;  and  Bessie  died  in  infancy.  Mr.  Car- 
son was  later  married  to  Miss  Anna  Gibson  Hardy,  a  native  of  Bellflower, 
and  to  that  union  one  child  was  born,  Robert  H.,  who  lives  in  Birming- 
ham, Mich.     Mrs.  Carson  died  in  1906. 

Mr.  Carson  is  a  Republican,  a  member  of  the  Independent  Order  of 
Odd  Fellows  and  belongs  to  the  Masonic  Lodge.  Because  of  his  efficiency 
in  office  and  his  interest  in  public  affairs,  Mr.  Carson  is  ranked  among  the 
substantial  citizens  of  McLean  County,  and  he  merits  the  approval  in 
which  he  is  held  in  this  community. 


Bertram  Adolph  Franklin,  a  well  known  and  successful  attorney  who 
is  engaged  in  the  practice  of  his  profession  at  Bloomington,  is  a  native 
of  McLean  County.  He  was  born  in  Money  Creek  Township,  Sept.  6,  1876, 
the  son  of  Noah  and  Sarah  Catherine  (Spawr)  Franklin,  a  sketch  of  whom 
appears  in  this  history. 

Bertram  Adolph  Franklin  was  reared  in  Lexington  and  received  his 


472  History  of  McLean  County 

education  in  the  public  and  high  schools  there.  He  then  attended  Mor- 
gan Park  Academy  near  Chicago  and  was  graduated  from  Eureka  Col- 
lege in  1896,  after  which  he  attended  Harvard  University,  finishing  there 
in  1899.  Mr.  Franklin  was  also  graduated  from  Wesleyan  Law  School 
in  1902,  after  which  he  began  the  practice  of  law  at  Lexington.  After 
remaining  there  for  three  years  he  came  to  Bloomington  and  since  1909 
has  been  associated  with  the  firm  of  Oglevee  and  Franklin.  Mr.  Franklin 
has  been  identified  with  many  of  the  important  cases  of  McLean  County 
and  is  a  capable  lawyer. 

On  Sept.  16,  1909,  Mr.  Franklin  married  Miss  Mildred  Sountag,  a 
native  of  Plainfield,  111.  She  died  Jan.  20,  1923,  leaving  one  child,  Mary 
Catherine,  who  was  born  Jan.  7,  1911. 

On  March  11,  1924,  he  was  married  to  Elizabeth  H.  Hoblit,  a  native  of 
Eureka,  111.,  the  widow  of  E.  M.  Hoblit  and  a  daughter  of  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
John  W.  Harber,  of  Bloomington,  111.,  natives  of  Woodford  County,  111. 
Mrs.  Franklin  has  a  daughter  by  her  first  marriage,  Helen  Hoblit,  born 
June  6,  1910. 

Mr.  Franklin  is  a  member  of  the  Christian  Church  and  belongs  to 
the  Masonic  Lodge  and  the  Elks  Lodge. 


Rev.  Edward  Parrish  Brand,  D.  D.,  a  prominent  Baptist  minister  of 
Normal,  who  has  attained  a  marked  degree  of  eminence  as  superintendent 
of  the  Illinois  Baptist  State  Convention,  is  a  native  of  West  Virginia.  He 
was  born  at  Morgantown,  Aug.  9,  1854,  a  son  of  Alexander  W.  and  Sarah 
(Bussey)   Brand,  both  natives  of  Virginia  where  they  spent  their  lives. 

Dr.  Brand  was  educated  in  the  public  schools,  and  a  private  school  in 
Pennsylvania,  in  the  State  Normal  and  State  University  of  West  Vir- 
ginia. He  then  spent  two  years  at  Newton  Theological  Seminary,  Massa- 
chusetts. In  1878  he  was  licensed  to  preach,  being  ordained  at  Zoar,  W. 
Va.,  Oct.  30,  1880.  During  the  time  he  was  attending  the  university  he 
was  engaged  in  preaching  at  some  of  the  Baptist  churches  in  Monongahela 
County,  W.  Va.  Before  he  became  superintendent  of  the  Baptist  State 
Convention  he  had  been  pastor  of  the  following  churches :  Taylortown  and 
Sugar  Grove,  Green  County,  Pa.,  1885-1886;  Madisonville  (Cincinnati), 
Ohio,  1886-1890;  Orion  and  Alpha,  111.,  1890-1891;  Atchison,  Kan.,  1891- 
1892,  and  Cambridge,  Alpha  and  Orion,  111.,  1892-1898. 


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History  of  McLean  County  473 

In  June,  1906,  Ewing  College,  Illinois,  conferred  upon  him  the  hon- 
orary degree  of  Doctor  of  Divinity  and  Shurtleff  College  also  in  1915  con- 
ferred upon  him  the  same  degree. 

In  addition  to  his  work  as  superintendent  he  was  editor  and  pub- 
lisher of  the  Illinois  Baptist  Annual  from  1898  to  1921  and  published 
the  Illinois  Baptist  Bulletin  from  1909-1922.  He  has  also  found  time  to 
manage  a  farm  near  his  home. 

Since  he  began  his  career  as  a  minister  he  has  always  made  it  a  rule 
to  preach  a  sermon  every  Sabbath  day,  wherever  he  may  be.  As  a  pulpit 
orator  he  has  attained  considerable  distinction.  He  has  done  work  in  the 
line  of  his  calling  in  seven  different  states  of  the  Union  and  has  traveled 
in  30  states  and  in  foreign  countries.  Some  time  ago  he  let  it  be  known 
that  he  desired  to  give  up  the  work  of  superintendent  on  Jan.  1,  1922,  and 
at  the  following  state  convention  his  request  was  granted  but  he  was 
unanimously  elected  to  another  position  for  life  which  involves  lighter 
duties,  including  the  writing  of  a  Baptist  history  to  which  he  is  now 
devoting  about  half  of  his  time. 

In  1885  Dr.  Brand  was  married  to  Miss  Vienna  Moore,  a  daughter  of 
Joseph  and  Sarah  Moore  of  Point  Marion,  Pa.,  and  to  this  union  were  born 
the  following  children:  Sylvia  Pearl,  born  Sept.  22,  1886,  died  Oct.  18, 
1891 ;  Sarah  Hazel,  born  Nov.  26,  1888,  married  Oswald  Carl  Yeager,  of 
Danville,  111.,  and  they  have  two  children,  Elizabeth  Ann,  born  Aug.  8, 
1914,  and  Philip  Edward,  born  Oct.  2,  1916;  Lila  Marjorie,  born  Aug.  9, 
1894,  a  teacher  and  Mildred  Dorothy,  born  Feb.  21,  1896,  married  Lyndon 
Rutledge  Wilson  and  they  reside  at  Tuscon,  Ariz.  They  have  one  child, 
Margaret  Anna,  born  July  29,  1921. 

Dr.  Brand's  work  in  the  capacity  of  superintendent  of  the  Illinois 
Baptist  State  Convention  has  been  carefully  reviewed  by  President  George 
M.  Potter  of  Shurtleff  College,  in  an  article  which  appeared  in  the  Baptist 
Standard,  Oct.  18,  1919,  under  the  title  of  "A  Kingdom  Highway  Builder," 
which  in  part  is  as  follows : 

''Twenty-one  years  ago  the  Illinois  Baptist  State  Convention  for  the 
third  time  offered  its  superintendency  of  State  Convention  work  to  E.  P. 
Brand,  then  pastor  of  the  Alpha  and  Orion  churches  in  Henry  County. 
The  work  of  the  convention  was  in  a  discouraging  situation.  The  super- 
intendent had  resigned,  there  was  no  great  amount  of  funds,  the  churches 
were  not  enthusiastic  about  the  work  and  altogether  it  was  a  most  unin- 
viting offer.    Nevertheless  it  was  accepted  and  for  twenty-one  years  E.  P. 


474  History  of  McLean  County 

Brand  and  the  Baptist  State  Convention  of  Illinois  have  been  inseparable 
in  the  minds  not  only  of  the  Baptists  of  this  one  state  but  also  of  the 
Baptists  of  all  the  states  in  the  central  Mississippi  valley. 

"With  keen  foresight  and  consecrated  judgment  he  has  laid  out  cer- 
tain lines  along  which  Baptist  work  is  to  be  developed.  He  has  spied 
out  the  land,  has  had  a  vision  of  the  future  and  with  able  leadership  has 
led  the  Baptist  hosts  of  the  state  to  catch  the  vision  and  to  give  them- 
selves to  the  realization  of  certain  definite  plans. 

"He  has  stressed  evangelistic  campaigns,  encouraged  churches  to 
develop  the  evangelistic  gifts  of  their  pastors,  and  to  employ  the  most  con- 
secrated and  efficient  evangelists.  He  has  sought  to  bring  to  the  state 
splendid  men  to  carry  on  state-wide  campaigns  and  he  has  always  met  the 
offers  of  the  national  societies  by  securing  abundant  funds  with  which  to 
place  evangelists  in  the  field  and  to  carry  on  the  campaign  for  the  con- 
version and  spiritual  development  of  men  and  women.  It  is  the  writer's 
opinion  that  Dr.  Brand  himself  must  think  this  phase  of  his  work  one  of 
the  most  satisfying  and  outstanding  of  his  numerous  activities. 

"When  Doctor  Brand  undertook  the  state  work  the  trust  funds  of  the 
convention  was  small.  He  set  himself  resolutely  to  increase  these  funds 
and  the  endowment  has  gradually  grown  to  such  an  extent  that  it  is  now 
more  than  $106,000.  More  than  any  other  leader  before  him  in  the  state, 
he  has  succeeded  in  interesting  men  and  women  of  means  in  this  phase 
of  convention  work  and  many  large  gifts  which  are  to  come  in  the  future 
will  no  doubt  be  traced  to  his  influence.  In  this  connection  too  our  super- 
intendent has  made  the  convention  the  conservator  of  Baptist  property 
and  the  friend  of  all  needy  Baptist  churches.  The  starting  of  Baptist 
work  in  some  localities  and  the  chance  to  carry  on  such  work  in  many 
others  has  been  due  to  Doctor  Brand's  help  and  counsel. 

"When  the  affairs  of  Shurtleff  College  were  at  their  lowest  and  many 
of  its  best  friends  were  confused  and  doubtful  about  the  outcome  it  was 
Doctor  Brand  who  called  for  a  committee  of  the  board  of  trustees  of 
the  institution  to  meet  with  the  state  board  of  the  convention  at  its  ses- 
sion in  Bloomington.  Out  of  this  meeting  came  the  decision  which  re- 
sulted in  the  action  of  the  state  convention  at  its  meeting  in  Elgin  in  1911 
whereby  Shurtleff  College  became  the  college  of  the  state  convention 
recognized  as  the  Baptist  State  College  of  Illinois. 

"He  also  brought  about  the  building  and  establishment  of  our  Baptist 
work  at  the  State  University  of  Illinois.     With  his  active  enthusiasm  he 


History  of  McLean  County  475 

threw  a  representative  of  the  state  convention  into  the  canvass  and 
secured  the  present  grounds  lying  in  a  strategic  location.  A  few  years 
later  the  state  convention  authorized  the  building  of  a  church  edifice  and 
pastor's  home  and  Doctor  Brand  was  directed  to  employ  a  man  to  push 
the  campaign  for  funds  and  a  few  months  later  about  $40,000  was  raised 
and  the  work  immediately  begun. 

"No  summary  of  Doctor  Brand's  work  for  the  Baptists  of  Illinois  can 
be  complete,  for  who  can  count  the  days  and  nights  spent  on  trains,  in 
carriages,  in  automobiles,  as  he  traveled  over  our  boundless  prairies?  He 
has  been  a  veritable  builder  of  highways  for  the  kingdom  of  Jesus  Christ 
and  these  five  great  trunk  lines  stand  out  pre-eminent  as  roads  over  which 
he  has  led  the  Baptist  host  toward  greater  things:  constant  evangelistic 
endeavor ;  greater  financial  strength  to  the  convention ;  denominational 
education  of  our  young  people;  care  of  them  while  they  are  being  edu- 
cated at  our  state  university,  and  strong  cooperation  between  our  great 
metropolis  and  the  rest  of  the  state;  from  these  great  highways  Doctor 
Brand  is  even  now  laying  out  branch  lines." 


J.  Heber  Hudson. — A  position  that  is  unique  in  the  community,  and 
a  work  which  is  peculiarly  interesting  and  beneficial  alike  to  the  city  and 
county  is  that  of  J.  H.  Hudson,  secretary  of  the  Bloomington  Association 
of  Commerce.  This  position  he  has  filled  and  this  work  he  has  carried  on 
for  ten  years,  a  record  in  that  particular  line  which  has  no  equal  in  Illi- 
nois and  perhaps  but  few  anywhere  in  the  country. 

While  Mr.  Hudson  is  not  a  native  of  McLean  County,  he  has  spent 
most  of  his  life  in  this  state  and  county.  He  was  a  native  of  Wiscon- 
sin, being  born  at  the  town  of  Milton,  in  that  state,  on  Jan.  16,  1872. 
He  is  the  son  of  Lewis  B.  and  Alice  A.  (Gilbert)  Hudson.  His  parents 
were  both  natives  of  the  state  of  New  York,  but  they  located  in  Wis- 
consin after  their  marriage  and  remained  there  until  the  year  1881,  when 
they  removed  to  Bloomington. 

The  subject  of  our  sketch  was  then  a  lad  of  only  nine  years  of  age, 
and  the  city  to  which  he  then  came  with  his  parents  has  since  that  time 
been  constantly  his  home.  The  parents  removed  to  Aurora,  111.,  in  1892, 
but  Heber  remained  in  Bloomington.  The  father  died  in  Aurora  in  1915, 
and  the  widow  lived  there  for  many  years  afterward,  her  death  occurring 


476  History  of  McLean  County 

early  in  the  year  1924.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lewis  B.  Hudson  were  the  parents 
of  seven  children,  but  two  of  whom  are  now  living,  they  being  J.  H.  Hud- 
son of  Bloomington  and  Mrs.  John  J.  Trauten  of  Aurora,  111. 

J.  H.  Hudson  attended  the  public  schools  of  Bloomington,  and  when  it 
came  time  for  him  to  start  out  in  life  on  his  own  hook  he  secured  work  as 
a  cash  and  delivery  boy  for  a  store.  Later  he  took  up  the  work  of  a  com- 
mercial traveler,  being  employed  by  the  firm  of  Seibel  Bros.,  wholesale 
milliners  of  Bloomington.  He  was  on  the  road  for  that  firm  continuously 
for  28  years  and  had  a  very  wide  circle  of  business  friends  throughout 
his  territory. 

In  1914,  Mr.  Hudson  was  offered  the  position  of  secretary  of  the 
Bloomington  Commercial  Club,  now  known  as  the  Association  of  Com- 
merce. He  was  chosen  from  a  large  field  of  applicants,  and  the  remark- 
able record  he  has  since  made  showed  the  wisdom  of  the  choice.  The 
Commercial  Club  was  then  a  comparatively  small  organization,  with 
meager  equipment  and  practically  no  working  force  aside  from  the  secre- 
tary himself.  With  the  accession  of  Mr.  Hudson  to  the  position  of  execu- 
tive secretary,  the  club  took  on  new  life.  Its  membership  was  increased 
several  hundred  per  cent,  its  offices  enlarged  and  moved  to  larger  quarters 
three  times  in  succession,  and  new  branches  of  work  for  the  good  of  the 
city  and  county  were  added  from  year  to  year.  One  of  the  most  notable 
achievements  of  the  Association  first  accomplished  was  the  formation  of 
the  Better  Farming  Association,  now  known  as  the  McLean  County  Farm 
Bureau,  which  was  sponsored  by  the  Commercial  Club  and  had  offices  with 
it  until  the  Farm  Bureau  became  so  large  and  robust  a  child  that  it  left 
its  home  nest  and  established  permanent  headquarters  in  a  building 
which  it  had  leased.  This  project  has  done  more  to  cement  good  relations 
between  the  city  and  rural  population  of  the  county  than  anything  else. 
It  is  impossible  within  the  limits  of  this  sketch  to  outline  all  the  accom- 
plishments of  the  Association  of  Commerce  in  the  ten  years  in  which  Mr. 
Hudson  has  been  secretary,  but  these  are  given  more  in  detail  in  the 
chapter  of  the  general  history  in  this  work  which  is  devoted  to  that  sub- 
ject. The  Association  of  Commerce  now  occupies  two  floors  of  the  B.  S. 
Green  building,  and  its  office  force  consists  of  fourteen  people.  It  is  a 
general  clearing  house  for  community  activities.  Hundreds  of  thousands 
of  dollars  have  passed  through  its  office  in  the  last  decade  all  expanded 
in  the  interest  of  the  general  good  of  the  city  and  county.     The  success 


History  of  McLean  County  477 

and  growth  of  the  Association  in  this  period  has  been  due  in  large  part  to 
the  universal  confidence  which  its  membership  has  in  its  secretary. 

In  1894,  Mr.  Hudson  was  married  to  Miss  Carrie  Scott,  a  native  of 
Bloomington,  and  a  daughter  of  Benjamin  F.  Scott.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hud- 
son two  children  have  been  born,  as  follows:  Gladys,  married  A.  V. 
Padou,  lives  in  Indianapolis ;  and  Heber  S.,  an  attorney  of  Bloomington. 
He  received  his  education  in  the  public  and  high  schools  of  Bloomington 
and  after  attending  Illinois  Wesleyan  University  was  graduated  from 
the  University  of  Michigan  in  1922.  He  has  charge  of  the  credit  depart- 
ment of  the  W.  H.  Roland  Co. 

J.  H.  Hudson  is  a  Republican,  a  member  of  the  Second  Presbyterian 
Church,  and  belongs  to  the  Masonic  Lodge  and  Consistory  of  Blooming- 
ton. He  belongs  to  the  Rotary  Club,  the  Young  Mens'  Club,  the  Bloom- 
ington Club,  and  the  Maplewood  Country  Club.  He  is  secretary-treasurer 
of  Post  L  of  the  Travelers'  Protective  Association,  the  post  having  a  mem- 
bership of  more  than  800.  He  is  also  a  member  of  Bloomington  Council 
of  the  United  Commercial  Travelers,  the  National  Union  and  the  Court  of 
Honor.  Mr.  Hudson  has  served  as  president  of  the  Illinois  Commercial 
Secretaries'  Association  and  is  a  director  of  the  National  Association  of 
Commercial  Secretaries.  He  is  universally  regarded  as  one  of  the  sub- 
stantial and  highly  esteemed  citizens  of  McLean  County. 


H.  K.  Hoblit,  vice-president  of  the  First  National  Bank  of  Blooming- 
ton, is  a  well-known  citizen  of  McLean  County.  He  was  born  in  Spring- 
field, 111.,  Aug.  10,  1882,  and  is  a  son  of  A.  B.  and  Anna  (Keys)  Hoblit. 

A.  B.  Hoblit  was  born  in  Canton,  111.,  and  his  wife  was  born  in  Spring- 
field, 111.  He  was  a  leading  banker  of  Illinois  for  many  years  and  in  1878 
organized  the  State  Bank  of  Bloomington.  Previous  to  that  time  he  had 
organized  the  Farmers  National  Bank  at  Pekin,  111.,  and  was  cashier  there 
for  two  years.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hoblit  were  the  parents  of  two  children,  as 
follows:  Edward,  died  in  1921,  was  married  to  Elizabeth  Harbor,  who 
lives  in  Bloomington;  and  H.  K.,  the  subject  of  this  sketch.  Mrs.  Hoblit 
died  when  H.  K.  Hoblit  was  a  child  and  her  husband  was  later  married 
to  Sarah  Coolidge,  who  now  resides  in  Bloomington.  A.  B.  Hoblit  died 
in  June,  1920. 


478  History  of  McLean  County 

H.  K.  Hoblit  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  at  Bloomington  and 
was  engaged  as  a  collector  for  the  State  Bank  there.  After  many  pro- 
motions he  was  made  president  of  the  bank  in  1920  and  the  following 
year  when  the  bank  was  consolidated  with  the  First  National  Bank,  Mr. 
Hoblit  was  made  vice-president.  He  is  also  vice-president  of  the  First 
Trust  &  Savings  Bank  and  of  the  First  Title  &  Savings  Company. 

In  1904,  Mr.  Hoblit  was  married  to  Miss  Florence  Herrick,  a  native 
of  Oak  Park,  111.,  and  daughter  of  D.  C.  Herrick.  Mr.  Herrick  came  to 
Bloomington  after  the  fire  here  in  1900  and  became  a  leading  merchant. 
He  sold  his  business  in  1923  and  now  lives  retired  in  Chicago.  One  child 
was  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  H.  K.  Hoblit,  Barbara,  born  in  1913. 

Mr.  Hoblit  is  a  Republican  and  a  member  of  the  Masonic  Lodge  and 
the  Consistory  of  Bloomington.  He  also  belongs  to  the  Elks.  Mr.  Hoblit 
inherited  the  banking  ability  of  his  grandfather,  Isaac  Keyes,  who  or- 
ganized the  Farmers  National  Bank  of  Springfield,  111.  Mr.  Keys  was 
appointed  Provost  Marshal  under  President  Lincoln. 


James  Frank  Gillespie. — Rising  by  his  own  efforts  from  surround- 
ings that  called  for  the  best  that  was  in  him,  James  Frank  Gillespie  has 
established  himself  in  a  secure  place  among  the  successful  attorneys 
of  McLean  County,  to  which  he  came  thirty-two  years  ago.  He  is  a  native 
of  Virginia,  a  state  which  is  called  the  mother  of  presidents  and  from 
whose  bosom  have  come  scores  of  men  who  have  achieved  renown  for 
themselves  and  reflected  credit  upon  the  land  of  their  nativity.  Mr.  Gil- 
lespie is  now  right  in  the  prime  of  his  professional  career.  He  is  located 
in  the  county  seat,  Bloomington,  and  has  offices  in  the  Livingston  building. 

Mr.  Gillespie  was  born  at  White  Sulphur  Springs,  Va.,  on  April  18, 
1869,  and  is  the  son  of  James  and  Henrietta  Laurestine  Gillespie.  The 
Gillespie  family  were  early  settlers  of  Pennsylvania,  but  they  later  moved 
to  Virginia,  where  James  Gillespie  was  born  and  where  the  family  lived 
their  entire  lives.  The  father  was  a  prosperous  farmer  of  the  Old  Domin- 
ion. He  died  in  April,  1905,  and  the  mother  of  our  subject  died  on  Feb. 
15,  1923. 

James  Frank  Gillespie  was  reared  and  grew  to  young  manhood  ir> 
his  native  state,  where  he  secured  his  early  education.  He  graduated 
from  the  normal  school  at  Concord,  Va.,  and  then  attended  and  gra<ki- 


History  of  McLean  County  479 

ated  from  the  Central  Normal  School  at  Danville,  Ind.  He  started  out 
as  so  many  other  aspiring  youth  have  done,  by  earning  his  first  money 
in  teaching  school,  first  in  the  public  schools  of  West  Virginia,  and  after- 
ward became  principal  of  the  high  school  at  White  Sulphur  Springs,  Va., 
in  the  years  1890  and  1891.  Meantime  he  had  studied  law  and  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  bar  in  1892  at  Charleston,  W.  Va. 

Being  now  equipped  to  start  on  his  professional  career,  Mr.  Gillespie 
decided  to  come  to  the  middle  west,  and  he  chose  McLean  county  as  the 
place  to  locate  and  begin  the  practice  of  his  profession. 

Without  fame  or  prestige  of  any  kind,  he  began  to  work  faithfully 
in  the  daily  business  of  his  legal  practice,  and  gradually  built  up  for  him- 
self the  reputation  for  professional  ability  and  integrity  which  is  his 
today.  For  a  quarter  of  a  century,  with  only  brief  intervals  when  he  was 
more  energetically  engaged  in  political  activities,  Mr.  Gillespie  has  stead 
ily  forged  ahead.  He  has  been  successful  in  every  branch  of  his  practice, 
but  it  is  mainly  for  his  ability  and  conscientious  devotion  to  his  clients  as 
a  trial  lawyer  that  he  has  made  his  reputation.  Few  men  in  the  history  of 
the  McLean  County  bar  have  been  so  effective  in  their  jury  pleadings. 
His  reputation  in  this  line  is  more  than  local,  and  he  is  known  throughout 
Central  Illinois  and  the  whole  state. 

Mr.  Gillespie  served  a  term  in  the  Legislature  from  the  Twenty-sixth 
senatorial  district,  and  made  a  good  record  in  the  house.  He  is  now 
(1924)  the  nominee  of  the  Democratic  party  for  congress  for  the  Seven- 
teenth Illinois  congressional  district.  For  many  years  he  has  been  one 
of  the  reliable  leaders  of  the  Democratic  party  in  the  county  and  state, 
and  his  speeches  in  every  recent  campaign  always  being  effective  and 
magnetic.  Mr.  Gillespie  is  a  student  of  economic  questions  from  the 
non-partisan  standpoint.  He  is  fond  of  the  best  literature  and  is  versed 
in  the  writings  of  famous  men  of  many  ages.  Being  himself  owner  of 
farm  land*  in  McLean  county,  he  has  always  been  interested  in  legislfiti.cn 
that  relates  to  agriculture  and  its  allied  interests. 

Mr.  Gillespie  was  married  on  June  10,  1896,  to  Miss  Laura  Sharp,  a 
native  of  Lewisburg,  Greenbrier  County,  W.  Va.  She  was  reared  and 
educated  in  that  county,  graduating  from  the  public  and  normal  school?, 
and  was  for  some  years  a  teacher  in  the  public  schools.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Gillespie  have  one  daughter,  Lucile,  a  graduate  of  the  University  of 
Chicago,  who  resides  at  home.  The  daughter  is  a  teacher  of  mathematics 
in  the  Bloomington  high  school. 


480  History  of  McLean  County 

Park  C.  Gillespie,  now  living  retired  at  Normal,  is  a  substantial  citi- 
zen and  a  member  of  one  of  the  early  prominent  pioneer  families  of 
McLean  County.  He  was  born  at  Bloomington,  July  12,  1867,  the  son  of 
Christian  J.  and  Theresa  J.  (Gregory)  Gillespie. 

Christian  Gillespie  was  born  April  15,  1842,  in  Pennsylvania,  and 
came  to  Illinois  with  his  parents  when  he  was  five  years  old.  The  Gilles- 
pie family  settled  on  a  farm  in  Twin  Grove  Township  and  were  among 
the  earliest  settlers  of  McLean  County.  Christian  Gillespie  became  the 
owner  of  540  acres  of  land  in  Chenoa  Township  where  he  moved  after  his 
marriage,  which  occurred  Nov.  10,  1865,  and  at  the  time  of  his  death  was 
a  leading  stockman  of  the  county.  He  died  Nov.  23,  1908,  and  his  wife 
died  July  13,  1920.  Park  C.  Gillespie,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was 
their  only  child. 

Park  C.  Gillespie  received  his  education  in  the  district  schools  and 
started  life  farming  on  his  father's  farm  in  Chenoa  Township.  He  be- 
came the  owner  of  540  acres  of  land  in  that  township  and  800  acres  in 
Kansas.  For  many  years  Mr.  Gillespie  was  a  successful  farmer  and 
was  a  breeder  of  registered  stock.    He  was  also  an  extensive  grain  farmer. 

On  Jan.  13,  1893,  Mr.  Gillespie  was  married  to  Miss  Freda  Reichardt, 
a  native  of  New  York  City,  born  Jan.  24,  1873,  and  the  daughter  of  John 
Reichardt,  a  native  of  Germany  and  an  early  settler  of  New  York.  Mr. 
Reichardt  was  a  Republican  and  a  member  of  the  Lutheran  Church.  Mrs. 
Gillespie  had  the  following  brothers  and  sisters :  Bessie,  deceased ;  Frank, 
Pontiac,  111.,  and  Dora,  lives  in  New  York.  To  Park  C.  and  Freda 
(Reichardt)  Gillespie  the  following  children  were  born:  Herbert,  farmer, 
lives  in  Chenoa  Township;  Howard,  twin  brother  of  Herbert,  engaged  in 
the  insurance  business  at  Chenoa ;  Christian  J.,  extensive  farmer,  a  sketch 
of  whom  appears  in  these  volumes;  Grace,  deceased;  May,  deceased;  and 
Frank,  World  War  veteran,  a  sketch  of  whom  also  appears  in  this  history. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gillespie  have  five  grandchildren,  as  follows:  Ruth,  Bettie 
Jean,  Margaret,  Hannah,  Esther  and  Herbert. 

Park  C.  Gillespie  is  identified  with  the  Republican  party  in  politics 
and  served  as  mayor  of  Chenoa  for  a  number  of  years.  During  his  term 
as  mayor  Mr.  Gillespie  was  instrumental  in  having  the  streets  of  Chenoa 
paved  and  in  the  enforcing  of  prohibition.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
school  board  for  ten  years  and  was  a  member  of  the  school  building  com- 

t 

mittee  when  the  new  school  building  was  erected.     He  was  elected  to  the 
Normal  City  Council  in  March,  1923,  which  office  he  now  holds. 


PARK  C.   GILLESPIE. 


t!PnM 


History  of  McLean  County  481 

Mr.  Gillespie  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Church  and  belongs  to 
the  Masonic  lodge,  and  has  held  every  office  in  the  lodge  with  the  excep- 
tion of  33rd  degree.  He  and  his  wife  now  live  retired  at  912  Fell  Avenue, 
Normal.  Mr.  Gillespie  is  a  progressive  and  public  spirited  man  and 
ranks  as  one' of  the  leading  citizens  of  McLean  County. 


Clinton  B.  Hughes,  a  prominent  attorney  of  Bloomington,  was  born  in 
Clayton  County,  Iowa,  July  16,  1878,  the  son  of  Ambrose  M.  and  Ida  E. 
(Hale)  Hughes. 

Ambrose  M.  Hughes  was  born  in  Lycoming  County,  Pa.,  Jan.  9,  1855. 
He  taught  school  in  early  life  and  followed  farming  later  in  Iowa,  where 
his  parents  had  moved  in  1860.  He  purchased  land  near  Strawberry 
Point,  Iowa,  and  now  lives  at  Ames,  Iowa.  He  has  figured  prominently 
in  local  affairs  and  held  various  public  offices.  Mr.  Hughes  married  Ida 
E.  Hale,  who  was  born  in  Maine,  Dec.  20,  1857.  To  this  union  ten  chil- 
dren were  born,  as  follows:  Clinton  B.,  the  subject  of  this  sketch;  Eva, 
married  R.  V.  Cooper,  lives  at  San  Bernardino,  Cal. ;  James  R.,  died  April 
1,  1923,  at  Springfield,  111. ;  Mrs.  Peter  Anderson,  lives  at  Ames,  Iowa, 
served  as  a  Red  Cross  nurse  during  the  World  War;  Harriet,  a  librarian 
in  the  Masonic  library,  Cedar  Rapids,  Iowa ;  Cassie  Fleihler,  lives  at  Straw- 
berry Point,  Iowa;  Andrew,  a  veteran  of  the  World  War,  having  served 
over  seas  with  the  Rainbow  Division,  and  he  lives  at  Ames,  Iowa;  Mrs. 
Mary  Baxter,  lives  at  Lovell,  Okla. ;  Amos,  also  a  veteran  of  the  World 
War,  having  served  with  the  Third  Division,  and  Howard,  lives  at  Ames, 
Iowa. 

Clinton  B.  Hughes  spent  his  boyhood  on  his  father's  farm  at  Straw- 
berry Point,  Iowa,  and  received  his  education  in  the  schools  there,  and 
was  graduated  from  the  law  department  in  the  University  of  Iowa  in 
1900.  He  began  the  practice  of  law  at  Strawberry  Point  in  1901,  but  the 
following  year  removed  to  Arlington,  Iowa,  where  he  practiced  his  pro- 
fession until  1908.  He  then  went  to  West  Union,  Iowa,  where  he  was 
elected  county  attorney  in  1911,  and  was  re-elected  in  1913  which  office 
he  held  until  coming  to  Bloomington,  111.,  on  Jan.  1,  1916.  He  has  built 
up  a  splendid  practice  and  ranks  as  one  of  the  leading  lawyers  of  McLean 
County.  His  offices  are  in  the  Griesheim  building.  During  the  World 
War  Mr.  Hughes  was  a  member  of  the  Council  of  Defense  and  chairman 
of  Four-Minute  speakers.    He  took  an  active  part  in  all  war  work. 

(29) 


482  History  of  McLean  County 

In  March,  1902,  Mr.  Hughes  was  married  to  Miss  Anna  Opperman, 
a  native  of  Iowa,  and  a  daughter  of  Henry  and  Mary  (Kramer)  Opper- 
man. Mr.  Opperman  followed  farming  for  many  years  near  Strawberry 
Point,  Iowa,  and  died  in  March,  1913.  His  widow  resides  in  Iowa.  Mrs. 
Hughes  died  Jan.  3,  1904,  leaving  two  children,  Flora  M.,  born  December, 
1902,  and  Donald  M.,  born  in  December,  1903.  On  Dec.  22,  1905,  Mr. 
Hughes  was  married  to  Miss  Magdalena  Opperman,  a  sister  of  his  first 
wife  and  to  this  union  the  following  children  have  been  born:  Harold  A., 
born  in  November,  1906;  Helen,  born  January,  1908;  Theodore,  born  Au- 
gust, 1909;  Paul,  born  in  1911;  Dorothy  Jane,  born  in  1919;  and  Clinton 
B.,  born  in  1921.  The  three  older  children  are  students  at  Illinois  Wes- 
leyan  University,  and  the  others  attend  school  in  Bloomington. 

Mr.  Hughes  served  as  assistant  attorney  general  of  Illinois  for  two 
years.  He  is  a  Republican,  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Church,  and  be- 
longs to  the  Masonic  bodies  and  Bloomington  Consistory  and  the  Mod- 
ern Woodmen  of  America.  Mr.  Hughes  is  widely  and  favorably  known 
throughout  McLean  County  as  a  capable  lawyer. 


Miss  Nellie  E.  Parham,  librarian  at  the  Withers  Public  Library  of 
Bloomington  for  just  a  quarter  of  a  century,  has  been  an  influential  force 
in  the  city  for  that  time.  Miss  Parham  comes  from  English  ancestry,  for 
her  grandparents  on  her  father's  side  were  both  residents  of  England 
prior  to  their  coming  to  America  in  1830.  Her  paternal  grandfather  and 
grandmother  were  Thomas  and  Anna  (Bristol)  Parham,  who  had  resided 
in  Tisbury,  England,  until  their  emigration  to  the  United  States.  Her 
maternal  grandparents  were  Willard  and  Piany  (Roberts)  Doolittle,  whose 
family  came  early  to  America  and  later  made  their  home  in  New  York. 
Miss  Parham's  father  was  Alford  Bristol  Parham,  and  he  was  born  in 
northern  Indiana.  Her  mother  was  Arvilla  Berthea  Doolitle,  who  was 
born  in  New  York,  but  whose  family  came  to  northern  Indiana  when  she 
was  eight  years  of  age. 

Nellie  E.  Parham  was  the  eldest  of  three  children,  and  was  born 
near  the  town  of  Lima,  Ind.,  now  known  as  Howe.  She  was  graduated 
from  high  school  at  Lima,  attended  a  private  school  one  year,  and  then 
spent  one  year  at  the  Indiana  State  Normal.  She  engaged  in  teach- 
ing for  a  period,  first  at  Elkhart,  Ind.,  and  later  at  Beatrice,  Nebr.     She 


History  of  McLean  County  483 

entered  the  University  of  Illinois  and  took  a  library  course  of  training 
there  in  1897-99.  She  went  first  to  the  library  of  the  University  of 
Pennsylvania  at  Philadelphia,  where  she  remained  from  May  till  October, 
when  she  came  to  Bloomington.  Miss  Parham  has  had  charge  of  the 
Withers  Library  continuously  since  coming  here.  She  has  filled  the  posi- 
tion with  exceptional  ability  and  general  satisfaction  to  the  library  board 
and  the  general  public.  She  has  seen  many  changes  in  the  library,  chief 
of  which  was  its  expansion  to  include  the  use  of  the  entire  building,  the 
upper  story  of  which  was  leased  and  occupied  by  the  Bloomington  Club 
when  Miss  Parham  came  here. 

Aside  from  her  work  as  librarian,  in  which  she  comes  in  contact 
with  many  groups  of  the  citizens,  Miss  Parham  has  always  been  active 
in  movements  for  the  betterment  of  the  community  in  other  ways.  She 
is  an  active  member  of  the  Woman's  Club  and  of  the  Four  O'Clock  His- 
tory Club.  She  is  a  director  and  interested  worker  for  the  Day  Nursery, 
and  many  other  civic  organizations  have  felt  her  energetic  co-operation. 


Jacob   A.  Bohrer,  well  known  member  of  the  firm  of  Bohrer  and 

Riley,  attorneys  of  Bloomington,  was  born  on  a  farm  in  Normal  Town- 
ship, May  15,  1867,  the  son  of  Frederick  C.  and  Anna  M.  (Ziegler)  Bohrer. 

Frederick  C.  Bohrer  and  his  wife  were  natives  of  Rhenish,  Bavaria, 
and  left  that  country  when  they  were  children.  Their  families  settled 
near  Georgetown,  Brown  County,  Ohio,  and  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bohrer  came 
to  McLean  County  in  1855,  where  they  spent  the  remainder  of  their  lives. 
They  are  now  deceased.  There  were  five  children,  as  follows :  George,  was 
a  prominent  farmer  of  Normal  Township  for  many  years,  well  known 
politician  and  served  as  a  member  of  the  board  of  supervisors,  and  died 
Sept.  30,  1910,  at  the  age  of  55  years;  Louisa  B.,  married  Jacob  N.  Hilton, 
and  died  Sept.  23,  1922;  Mary  E.,  died  July  5,  1917;  Louis,  farmer,  lives  in 
Dry  Grove  Township,  and  Jacob  A.,  the  subject  of  this  sketch. 

Jacob  A.  Bohrer  spent  his  boyhood  days  on  his  father's  farm  and 
attended  the  district  schools.  He  entered  the  high  school  department  at 
Normal  University  in  1887  and  the  following  fall  attended  Williams  Col- 
lege at  Williamstown,  Mass.,  from  which  he  was  graduated  in  1891.  Mr. 
Bohrer  was  made  a  member  of  the  Phi  Delta  Theta  and  the  Phi  Beta 
Kappa  fraternities  during  his  junior  year  at  college,  and  after  his  grad- 


484  History  of  McLean  County 

uation  returned  to  Bloomington  and  taught  Latin,  Greek,  German  and 
American  history  in  the  high  school  department  of  Normal  University 
for  four  years.  While  teaching  there  Mr.  Bohrer  studied  law  for  two 
years  and  was  graduated  from  that  department  in  June,  1896,  and  admit- 
ted to  the  bar.  He  was  appointed  assistant  state  attorney  under  R.  L. 
Fleming  and  served  five  years.  In  1901,  Mr.  Bohrer  was  appointed  post- 
master by  President  McKinley  and  re-appointed  by  the  late  President 
Roosevelt  and  ex-President  Taft.  He  served  as  postmaster  of  Bloom- 
ington for  121/i  years,  which  is  the  longest  record  held  by  any  one  in  that 
office  at  Bloomington.  Mr.  Bohrer  served  as  chairman  of  the  McLean  , 
County  Republican  Central  Committee  for  five  years  and  on  Feb.  1,  1914, 
at  the  expiration  of  his  term,  engaged  in  the  practice  of  law,  being 
associated  with  Governor  Fifer.  This  partnership  continued  until  Feb.  1, 
1922,  when  Mr.  Bohrer  became  associated  with  Judge  Riley  in  the  prac- 
tice of  law.  They  do  a  general  practice  and  are  widely  known  throughout 
McLean  County. 

Mr.  Bohrer  was  married  May  5,  1898,  to  Miss  Florence  Fifer,  a 
daughter  of  Governor  Fifer,  and  to  this  union  two  children  have  been 
born,  as  follows:  Joseph  Fifer  Bohrer,  attends  the  law  school  at  Chicago 
University;  and  Gertrude  Bohrer,  a  student  in  the  journalism  depart- 
ment of  the  University  of  Wisconsin.  Miss  Bohrer  attended  Dana  Hall 
at  Wellesley,  Mass.,  and  her  brother  is  a  graduate  of  Chicago  University. 

In  politics  Mr.  Bohrer  has  always  been  identified  with  the  Republican 
party  and  he  is  a  member  of  the  Unitarian  Church.  He  is  a  reliable  and 
excellent  citizen  of  Bloomington. 


Hal  Marot  Stone,  attorney  of  Bloomington,  is  well  known  through- 
out the  community  as  a  successful  man  in  his  profession.  He  was  born 
in  Mason  County,  111.,  July  31,  1877,  the  son  of  Claudius  L.  and  Mary 
Gertrude  (Marot)  Stone. 

Claudius  L.  Stone  was  a  native  of  Menard  County,  111.,  born  Sept.  18, 
1845,  and  the  son  of  William  A.  Stone,  who  came  to  Illinois  in  1832. 
William  A.  Stone  was  a  captain  during  the  Mexican  war  and  died  at  the 
age  of  87  years.  He  was  a  native  of  Kentucky  and  lived  in  Pennsylvania 
before  moving  to  Illinois.  Mary  Gertrude  (Marot)  Stone  was  a  native  of 
Ohio  and  came  to  Illinois  with  her  parents  when  she  was  a  young  girl. 


History  of  McLean  County  485 

The  Marot  family  originally  came  from  France  and  settled  in  Pennsyl- 
vania and  August  Marot,  Mrs.  Stone's  father,  was  among  the  first  of  the 
Pennsylvania  Quakers  to  settle  in  Illinois.  Mrs.  Stone  died  in  1884  from 
injuries  received  when  a  cyclone  struck  this  section  of  Illinois.  A  child, 
Inez,  was  killed  in  her  mother's  arms  during  the  cyclone.  Hal  Marot 
Stone,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  has  three  brothers:  William  E.,  attor- 
ney, Mason  County,  111. ;  Arthur  L.,  traveling  salesman,  lives  at  Peoria, 
111.,  and  Clyde  E.,  supreme  court  judge  of  Illinois,  lives  at  Peoria. 

Hal  Marot  Stone  spent  his  boyhood  in  Mason  County  and  attended 
the  district  schools  and  high  school.  He  then  taught  school  for  six  years, 
four  years  of  which  were  spent  in  Menard  County.  Mr.  Stone  attended 
summer  school  at  Valparaiso  and  the  state  university  at  Champaign,  111., 
being  graduated  from  the  law  department  there  in  1903.  He  then  came 
to  Bloomington  and  began  the  practice  of  law  alone,  but  soon  became  asso- 
ciated with  Everett  W.  Ogelvee.  The  firm  was  known  as  Stone  and 
Ogelvee  until  1909  when  Mr.  Stone  was  appointed  Master  of  Chancery 
and  the  firm  was  then  known  as  Stone,  Ogelvee  and  Franklin.  Later  Mr. 
Stone  withdrew  and  practiced  alone  for  about  a  year  and  in  1915  the 
firm  of  Stone  and  Dick  was  organized  with  offices  in  the  Peoples  Bank 
Building.  On  Aug.  1,  1923,  Mr.  Dick  withdrew  to  become  vice-president 
of  the  Peoples  Bank  and  his  place  was  taken  by  C.  C.  Taylor,  the  firm 
name  now  being  Stone  and  Taylor.  It  is  one  of  the  well  known  law  firms 
of  Bloomington  and  has  an  extensive  business  in  McLean  County. 

On  Nov.  11,  1903,  Mr.  Stone  married  Miss  Mildred  Ann  Burrill,  a 
daughter  of  Thomas  J.  Burrill,  a  well  known  educator  of  Illinois.  Mrs. 
Stone  died  Jan.  27,  1913,  leaving  one  child,  Mary  Helen,  at  home.  Mr. 
Stone  was  married  on  Jan.  24,  1916,  to  Miss  Olive  May  Mellon,  a  native 
of  Peoria.  To  this  union  three  children  have  been  born,  as  follows:  Betty 
Jane,  Hal,  Jr.,  and  Suzanne. 

Mr.  Stone  has  been  an  instructor  in  the  law  department  of  Illinois 
Wesleyan  University  since  1906  and  now  teaches  equity,  real  property, 
contracts  and  evidence.  He  served  as  president  of  the  Bloomington  Club 
from  1914  to  1916  and  he  is  a  member  of  the  Bloomington  Country  Club. 
Mr.  Stone  is  a  member  of  the  Phi  Kappa  Sigma,  the  Phi  Delta  Phi  and  the 
Theta  Kappa  Nu  fraternities.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church 
and  belongs  to  the  Masonic  Lodge  No.  43,  Bloomington  Lodge,  and  is 
both  a  York  and  Scottish  Rite  Mason.  He  belongs  to  the  Jesse  Fell  Lodge 
Knights  of  Pythias,  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America  No.  110,  and  is  a 


486  History  of  McLean  County 

member  of  the  State  Bar  Association  and  three  country  clubs.  During 
the  World  war  Mr.  Stone  served  as  county  food  administrator.  He  is  a 
progressive  man  in  his  profession,  a  citizen  of  great  public  spirit,  and  a 
man  known  to  his  community  for  his  high  ideals  of  civic  pride  and 
public  service. 


D.  G.  Fitzgerrell,  president  of  the  First  National  Bank  of  Normal, 
is  among  the  leading  and  influential  citizens  of  McLean  County.  He  was 
born  in  Jefferson  County,  111.,  near  Mt.  Vernon,  Feb.  10,  1868,  and  is  a 
son  of  James  Jackson  and  Sarah  M.   (Whitlow)  Fitzgerrell. 

James  Jackson  Fitzgerrell  was  a  native  of  Virginia  and  was  reared 
and  educated  in  Gibson  County,  Indiana.  He  came  to  Illinois  at  a  very 
early  date,  about  1839,  when  he  was  25  years  of  age.  He  settled  in  Jeffer- 
son County  where  he  purchased  land  from  the  government.  Mr.  Fitz- 
gerrell was  a  stockman  and  also  followed  farming.  He  was  a  Democrat 
and  took  a  keen  interest  in  politics  but  never  held  office.  He  died  in 
1889  at  the  age  of  75  years.  His  wife,  a  native  of  Franklin  County,  111., 
died  in  1903.  They  are  both  buried  near  an  extinct  town,  Fitzgerrell,  in 
Jefferson  County.  D.  G.  Fitzgerrell,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  is  one 
of  a  family  of  eight  children. 

Mr.  Fitzgerrell  was  reared  on  his  father's  farm  in  Jefferson  County 
and  attended  the  district  school.  At  the  age  of  16  years  he  attended 
Ewing  College,  at  Ewing,  III,  from  which  he  was  graduated  in  1886. 
After  engaging  in  the  hardware  business  for  a  time  at  Marion,  III,  he 
removed  to  Mt.  Vernon,  III,  where  he  served  as  assistant  postmaster 
during  President  Cleveland's  second  administration.  After  traveling  a 
short  time  he  engaged  in  the  banking  business  at  Ewing,  and  came  to 
Normal  on  Oct.  1,  1916.  Mr.  Fitzgerrell  has  served  as  president  of  the 
First  National  Bank  of  Normal  since  1916. 

On  May  25,  1887,  Mr.  Fitzgerrell  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Pauline  Goddard,  a  native  of  Marion,  111.  They  have  three  children: 
M.  G.,  associated  in  business  with  Swift  &  Company  in  St.  Louis;  J.  A., 
associated  with  the  New  York  Life  Insurance  Company  at  Peoria,  111., 
and  Katherine,  a  junior  at  Illinois  State  Normal  University. 

Mr.  Fitzgerrell  is  a  Past  Grand  Master  of  the  grand  lodge  of  the 
Ancient  Free  and  Accepted  Masons,  having  served  two  and  one-half  years. 


• 


History  of  McLean  County  487 

He  is  also  a  33rd  degree  Mason.  He  is  a  Democrat.  Mr.  Fitzgerrell  and 
his  family  hold  membership  in  the  First  Methodist  Church  of  Normal 
and  are  widely  known  in  McLean  County. 

The  First  National  Bank  of  Normal  was  organized  Nov.  1,  1893, 
with  John  C.  Aldrich,  as  president.  Colonel  Smith  was  vice  president 
until  his  death,  and  was  then  succeeded  by  his  son,  Dudley  Smith,  Jr. 
The  present  officers  are:  D.  G.  Fitzgerrell,  president;  Dudley  C.  Smith, 
Jr.,  vice  president;  William  H.  Odell,  cashier,  and  T.  H.  Keys,  assistant 
cashier.  The  directors  are:  D.  G.  Fitzgerrell,  Dudley  C.  Smith,  Jr.,  0.  L. 
Manchester,  David  Davis  and  W.  L.  McKnight.  The  present  resources 
are  about  $750,000.00,  and  the  assets  have  almost  doubled  since  Mr.  Fitz- 
gerrell became  president.  The  present  bank  building  was  designed  and 
built  by  Mr.  Fitzgerrell  in  1918,  and  is  modern  throughout.  It  is  located 
at  the  corners  of  Broadway  and  North  Street,  and  is  one  of  the  leading 
banking  institutions  in  McLean  County. 


O.  A.  Kyle,  well  known  veterinary  surgeon  of  Bloomington  and  pro- 
prietor of  a  veterinary  hospital  at  406  North  Center  Street,  is  a  native  of 
Illinois.  He  was  born  in  Madison  County,  111.,  Nov.  1,  1874,  the  son  of 
William  F.  and  Mary  (MacLilley)  Kyle. 

William  F.  Kyle  was  a  native  of  Ohio  and  an  early  settler  of  Madison 
County,  111.,  where  his  wife  was  born.  They  both  died  in  Madison  County. 
Mr.  Kyle  was  a  veterinary  surgeon  for  many  years  and  was  well  known. 
To  William  F.  and  Mary  (MacLilley)  Kyle  10  children  were  born,  eight 
of  whom  are  now  living,  as  follows:  William  C,  veterinary  surgeon  at 
Pocahontas,  111. ;  N.  W.,  veterinary  surgeon  at  Colfax,  111. ;  A.  H.,  veter- 
inary surgeon  at  Highland,  111. ;  M.  H.,  veterinary  surgeon  at  Chatsworth, 
111.;  O.  A.,  the  subject  of  this  sketch;  J.  C,  engaged  in  the  real  estate 
business  at  Colfax,  111. ;  Emma,  married  Eugene  Forester,  lives  at  Bloom- 
ington, and  Bertha,  married  Ed  Herrin,  now  deceased.  A.  H.  Kyle  has  a 
son,  Wilbur  Kyle,  who  is  also  a  veterinary  surgeon,  and  another  son, 
Raymond,  who  practices  dentistry  at  Breeze,  111. 

O.  A.  Kyle  spent  his  boyhood  days  in  Madison  County,  III,  and  at- 
tended the  public  and  high  schools  at  Highland.  He  then  entered  Chicago 
Veterinary  College,  from  which  he  was  graduated  in  1901.  Dr.  Kyle 
practiced  with  his  brother,  N.  W.  Kyle,  for  two  years  at  Colfax,  111.,  and 


488  History  of  McLean  County 

came  to  Bloomington  in  1902,  and  became  associated  with  Dr.  Alverson. 
After  two  years  he  engaged  in  business  for  himself  and  in  1914  opened 
a  veterinary  hospital  at  Bloomington.  Dr.  Kyle  has  facilities  for  treat- 
ing all  kinds  of  domestic  animals  and  his  hospital  is  among  the  finest 
of  its  kind  in  the  state.  He  also  carries  on  a  general  practice  besides  his 
hospital  work. 

Dr.  Kyle  is  a  member  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias.     He  is  an  able 
man  in  his  profession  and  a  substantial  citizen  of  McLean  County. 


David  Felmley,  president  of  the  Illinois  State  Normal  University,  was 
born  in  Somerset  County,  New  Jersey,  April  24,  1857.  He  was  bereft  of 
his  father  when  but  a  child  of  three  and  his  early  education  was  thus  left 
to  his  mother.  When  David  was  eleven  his  mother  decided  to  move  to 
Illinois  and  settled  in  Pike  County,  where  his  boyhood  and  much  of  his 
youth  was  spent. 

At  an  early  age,  David  Felmley  evinced  a  decided  intellectual  ten- 
dency, and  his  mother  had  the  foresight  to  keep  him  liberally  supplied 
with  books  and  instructive  periodical  literature.  As  he  approached  man- 
hood, David  became  an  insatiate  reader,  and  had  the  ability  to  digest  and 
assimilate  much  of  the  information  and  facts  which  he  had  so  eagerly 
devoured.  An  employee  of  his  mother,  who  was  somewhat  of  a  naturalist, 
persuaded  the  boy  to  stress  natural  science,  especially  in  the  direction 
of  botany,  while  his  fondness  for  mathematics  was  encouraged  by  an  early 
teacher. 

In  1872  young  Felmley  realized  his  ambition  to  enter  college  and 
became  a  student  at  Blackburn  University  at  Carlinville,  remaining  there 
three  years.  He  went  from  that  budding  institution  to  the  University  of 
Michigan,  completing  in  three  years  the  four-year  college  course.  After 
leaving  college  in  1881  he  taught  a  country  school  at  Virden,  then  for  ten 
years  he  served  at  Carrollton  as  principal  of  the  high  school  and  as  super- 
intendent of  schools.  He  received  a  call  to  the  chair  of  mathematics  at  the 
Illinois  State  Normal  University  at  Normal  in  1890.  Ten  years  of  faithful 
and  efficient  work  in  that  department  brought  him  into  such  favorable 
repute  with  the  State  Board  of  Education  that  in  August,  1900,  he  was 
elected  president  to  succeed  Dr.  Arnold  Tompkins,  who  had  been  selected 
as  a  successor  of  President  John  W.  Cook,  who,  had  resigned  the  year 


DAVID    FELMLKY. 


OF 


History  of  McLean  County  489 

before  to  accept  the  presidency  of  the  new  Northern  Illinois  State  Normal 
School  at  DeKalb. 

In  the  twenty-four  years  of  the  incumbency  of  President  Felmley  he 
has  enlarged  the  scope  of  the  institution  and  increased  its  usefulness.  The 
school  year  has  been  lengthened  to  twelve  months.  The  regular  faculty 
has  grown  from  21  teachers  to  82.  The  normal  department  has  been 
raised  to  the  grade  of  a  teachers'  college ;  the  annual  enrollment  of  normal 
students  increased  from  800  to  more  than  4000.  New  departments  have 
been  established  for  the  training  of  special  teachers  and  supervisors  of 
Art,  Music,  Manual  Training,  Home  Economics,  Agriculture,  Commercial 
Branches  and  Physical  Education.  The  State  Normal  University  now 
ranks  among  the  half-dozen  leading  teachers'  colleges  of  the  United  States. 

President  Felmley  has  through  his  long  career  been  an  active  figure 
upon  the  platform.  He  has  delivered  hundreds  of  educational  addresses 
in  Illinois  and  other  states  on  commencement  occasions  and  before  assem- 
blages of  teachers  and  friends  of  education.  He  has  also  been  a  frequent 
contributor  to  educational  periodicals.  He  has  been  one  of  the  authors 
of  the  State  Course  of  Study,  having  written  the  mathematical  curriculum 
in  that  publication. 

President  Felmley  received  the  degree  of  LL.  D.  from  the  University 
of  Illinois  in  1905,  and  L.  H.  D.  from  Blackburn  University  in  1906. 
He  is  a  charter  member  of  the  College  Alumni  Club  of  Bloomington,  and 
of  the  Rotary  Club.  He  is  in  point  of  attendance  the  oldest  member  of 
the  Illinois  State  Teachers'  Association  and  of  the  Illinois  Schoolmasters' 
Club.  He  served  upon  the  Illinois  Educational  Commission  in  1911-1913. 
He  is  now  a  member  of  the  National  Educational  Council  and  was  elected 
the  first  president  of  the  National  Council  of  Normal  School  Presidents. 

President  Felmley  is  temperamentally  a  progressive.  He  would  sum- 
mon before  the  bar  of  reason  every  theory,  doctrine,  practice,  or  institu- 
tion in  state  or  church,  in  school  or  in  society,  and  oblige  it  to  slough  off 
its  outworn  and  useless  features.  Accordingly  he  has  been  a  consistent 
and  persistent  advocate  of  spelling  reform,  of  tax  reform,  of  the  substitu- 
tion of  studies  in  natural  science  and  social  science  for  the  dead  languages 
in  the  high  school  curriculum.  He  has  always  taken  a  keen  interest  in 
economic  questions,  and  in  former  years  made  many  addresses  upon  poli- 
tical and  economic  questions.  Here,  as  in  other  fields,  he  showed  his 
sympathy  with  the  progressive  tendencies  of  the  time. 

President  Felmley  is  a  man  of  broad  intellectual  interests  and  of 


490  History  of  McLean  County 

extensive  acquirements  in  almost  every  field  of  knowledge.  He  enjoys  a 
reputation  for  accurate  scholarship  and  for  that  reason  was  chosen  a 
member  of  the  board  of  pronunciation  for  the  Standard  Dictionary.  He 
has  served  for  15  years  as  one  of  the  forty  members  of  the  Simplified 
Spelling  Board. 

In  1887  Mr.  Felmley  was  married  to  Miss  Auta  Stout  of  Carrollton,  111. 
Their  three  children  are  Mrs.  A.  B.  Meek  of  Carrollton,  111.,  Mildred  Felm- 
ley, a  teacher  in  the  Bloomington  High  School,  and  John  B.  Felmley,  a 
construction  engineer,  now  employed  at  Ottawa,  111. 


Julius  Schausten,  owner  and  proprietor  of  the  Bloomington  Soft 
Water  Laundry,  is  one  of  the  well  known  and  highly  respected  business 
men  of  this  city.  He  was  born  in  Bloomington,  Aug.  1,  1864,  and  is  the 
son  of  William  and  Phillipine  (Schlegel)  Schausten. 

William  Schausten  was  a  native  of  Germany  and  came  to  America 
when  a  young  man,  locating  in  Chicago.  Several  years  later  he  removed 
to  Bloomington  and  from  there  went  to  Clintonville,  111.  Later,  however, 
he  returned  to  Bloomington,  where  he  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life. 
Mr.  Schausten  served  throughout  the  Civil  war  with  an  Illinois  company. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Schausten,  now  deceased,  were  the  parents  of  the  following 
children:  Julius,  the  subject  of  this  sketch;  Ida,  the  widow  of  J.  P. 
Hooley,  lives  in  Bloomington;  Herman,  a  plumber,  lives  in  Bloomington, 
married  Ella  Irwin,  and  William,  married  Lillian  Moore,  lives  in  Bloom- 
ington. 

Julius  Schausten  was  reared  and  educated  in  Bloomington  and  has 
been  engaged  in  the  laundry  business  since  1902.  The  Bloomington  Soft 
Water  Laundry  is  located  at  407-411  South  Madison  Street  in  a  modern 
brick  building,  150x115  feet.  The  building  was  built  in  1902  and  is 
equipped  with  up-to-date  machinery.  Mr.  Schausten  employs  about  50 
persons,  several  of  whom  have  been  with  him  for  many  years.  His  busi- 
ness is  confined  to  Bloomington  and  is  among  the  leading  business  enter- 
prises of  the  city,  and  Mr.  Schausten  has  won  a  reputation  for  fairness 
both  to  his  customers  and  employes. 

On  Dec.  25,  1896,  Mr.  Schausten  was  married  to  Miss  Ida  Schneider, 
a  native  of  Bloomington  and  the  daughter  of  C.  C.  Schneider.  They  have 
no  children. 


History  of  McLean  County  491 

Mr.  Schausten  is  a  member  of  the  State  Laundry  Association  and 
belongs  to  the  Elks  Lodge. 


Milton  R.  Livingston,  a  member  of  the  firm  of  A.  Livingston  &  Sons, 
is  one  of  the  well  known  and  successful  business  men  of  McLean  County. 
He  was  born  in  Bloomington,  Oct.  29,  1872,  and  is  a  son  of  Aaron  and 
Hannah  (Eliel)  Livingston. 

Aaron  Livingston  was  born  in  Germany  and  came  to  this  country  in 
1858,  locating  at  Cincinnati,  Ohio.  Later  he  went  to  Fort  Leavenworth. 
Kans.,  and  at  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  war  enlisted  in  Company  I,  Second 
Regiment,  Kansas  Volunteer  Infantry,  and  served  for  four  years  as  a 
corporal.  Mr.  Livingston  came  to  Bloomington  in  1865  where  he  had 
cousins  living,  and  the  following  year  he  engaged  in  the  dry  goods  busi- 
ness there.  He  was  actively  connected  with  this  business  until  1896^ 
when  he  retired.    He  died  in  1903. 

A.  Livingston  &  Sons  is  the  oldest  business  establishment  in  Bloom- 
ington and  since  its  organization  has  been  in  the  same  location  where  it 
was  founded  in  the  spring  of  1866.  It  was  originally  a  dry  goods  store, 
but  has  been  enlarged  from  year  to  year  until  it  now  carries  a  complete 
line  of  women's  wearing  apparel,  house  furnishings,  victrolas,  etc.  There 
are  175  persons  employed  in  their  store  and  it  occupies  a  fine  four  story 
brick  building  on  the  south  side  of  the  square. 

Milton  R.  Livingston  received  his  education  in  the  public  schools  at 
Bloomington  and  when  he  was  a  boy  worked  in  his  father's  store  after 
school  and  during  vacations.  When  he  and  his  brothers  reached  the  age 
of  21  years  they  were  taken  in  as  members  of  the  firm,  the  name  of 
which  was  then  changed  to  A.  Livingston  &  Sons. 

On  Oct.  2,  1907,  Mr.  Livingston  was  married  to  Miss  Florence  Gries- 
heim,  a  native  of  Bloomington,  and  to  this  union  two  children  have  been 
born,  A.  Edward  and  William  G. 

Mr.  Livingston  is  president  of  the  Bloomington  Association  of  Com- 
merce and  has  been  a  director  since  its  organization.  He  has  served  as 
state  president  of  the  Illinois  Retail  Dry  Goods  Association  and  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Masonic  lodge,  being  a  32nd  degree  Mason,  and  a  member  of 
the  Consistory  and  Shrine.    He  is  also  a  member  of  the  Bloomington  Club 


492  History  of  McLean  County 

and  the  Maplewood  Country  Club.    Mr.  Livingston  is  highly  esteemed  as 
an  alert  business  man  and  an  enterprising  citizen. 

During  the  World  war  Mr.  Livingston  was  very  active  in  the  Red 
Cross  work  and  the  Liberty  Loan  drives.  He  was  also  head  of  the  Com- 
mercial Economy  Administration  of  several  counties  in  central  Illinois. 


Cliff  Guild,  registrar,  bursar  and  secretary  of  the  board  of  trustees  of 
Illinois  Wesleyan  University  at  Bloomington,  was  born  in  Watseka,  111., 
Nov.  21,  1868,  the  son  of  Edward  W.  and  Amanda  (Foster)  Guild. 

Edward  W.  Guild  was  a  native  of  Lowell,  Mass.,  and  came  to  Illinois 
with  his  parents  in  1838.  They  settled  first  in  Pike  County,  then  in 
Henry  County,  and  in  1863  moved  to  Watseka.  Mr.  Guild  was  a  merchant 
for  many  years  and  during  the  latter  part  of  his  life  engaged  in  farming 
in  Iroquois  County,  111.  He  and  his  wife  are  now  deceased.  Mrs.  Guild 
was  born  near  Columbus,  Ohio,  and  came  to  Illinois  with  her  parents 
when  she  was  very  young,  and  they  settled  in  Marshall  County. 

Cliff  Guild  spent  his  boyhood  days  on  his  father's  farm  and  attended 
the  district  schools  and  high  school  at  Watseka.  He  also  was  graduated 
from  Grand  Prairie  Seminary  at  Onarga,  111.,  and  afterward  attended 
Hedding  College  at  Abingdon,  111.,  from  which  institution  he  was  grad- 
uated in  1892  with  the  degree  of  Bachelor  of  Science.  He  received  his 
Master's  degree  at  the  same  institution  in  1895  and  three  years  later  took 
post  graduate  work  at  the  University  of  Chicago.  Mr.  Guild  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Hedding  College  Academy  faculty  as  instructor  in  mathematics 
for  three  years  and  in  1893  was  elected  to  the  chair  of  mathematics  in 
Hedding  College,  which  position  he  resigned  in  the  early  part  of  1900, 
after  which  he  returned  to  Watseka  and  engaged  in  the  lumber  business 
with  his  brothers.  In  1903  Mr.  Guild  was  re-elected  to  his  former  position 
at  Hedding  College  and  remained  another  year,  then  returning  again 
to  the  lumber  business  on  account  of  his  brother's  failing  health.  On 
Jan.  2,  1905,  he  was  elected  to  succeed  Dr.  DeMott,  deceased,  as  the  head 
of  the  mathematics  department  in  Illinois  Wesleyan  University.  He 
held  that  position  until  June,  1920,  when  he  became  secretary  of  the 
board  of  trustees  of  Illinois  Wesleyan  University  and  bursar  and  regis- 
trar of  the  institution,  which  position  he  still  holds. 


History  of  McLean  County  493 

On  June  28,  1894,  Mr.  Guild  married  Miss  Hattie  C.  Cross,  a  native 
of  Chicago,  who  came  to  Illinois  with  her  parents  when  she  was  a  young 
girl.  She  is  the  daughter  of  Michael  and  Kate  (Mitchinson)  Cross,  both 
natives  of  England.  Mr.  Cross  is  deceased  and  his  widow  lives  at  Brews- 
ter, Minn.  Mrs.  Guild  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  and  attended 
Grand  Prairie  Seminary  and  was  graduated  in  the  same  class  at  Hedding 
College  with  her  husband.  She  taught  school  for  several  terms  before 
her  marriage.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Guild  two  children  have  been  born,  as 
follows:  Helen,  a  graduate  of  Illinois  Wesleyan  University,  now  married 
to  Elmer  R.  Baum,  lives  in  Bloomington,  111.,  and  Doris,  a  member  of  the 
class  of  1924  at  Illinois  Wesleyan  University. 

Mr.  Guild  is  a  member  of  the  Arts  and  Crafts  Lodge,  A.  F.  and  A.  M., 
and  the  College  Alumni  Club  of  Bloomington.  He  belongs  to  the  Metho- 
dist Church  and  is  a  32nd  degree  Mason  and  a  member  of  the  Phi  Kappa 
Phi  fraternity.  Mr.  Guild  is  a  man  of  energy,  vision  and  ambition,  and 
an  invaluable  asset  to  the  institution  with  which  he  is  connected  and 
to  the  community. 


Campbell  Holton,  president  of  the  Campbell  Holton  &  Company,  is  a 
leading  business  man  of  McLean  County.  He  was  born  at  Vincennes, 
Ind.,  Aug.  11,  1866,  and  is  a  son  of  Rev.  Thomas  Tilghman  and  Ellen 
Margaret  (Campbell)  Holton.  A  sketch  of  Reverend  Thomas  T.  Holton 
and  his  family  appears  elsewhere  in  this  volume. 

Campbell  Holton  received  his  education  in  the  public  schools  and 
was  graduated  from  high  school  at  Lincoln,  111.,  in  1882.  When  he  was 
16  years  old  he  was  employed  in  the  grocery  store  of  C.  E.  Ross.  Six  years 
later  a  partnership  was  formed  with  Mr.  Reynolds,  which  was  known  as 
Holton  &  Reynolds.  In  1895  Mr.  Holton  came  to  Bloomington  and  was 
associated  with  the  Humphreys  &  Co.,  until  1907. 

Campbell  Holton  &  Company  was  organized  in  1907  and  incorporated 
for  $100,000  cash  paid  in.  Over  90  per  cent  of  this  stock  was  owned  by 
practical  men  who  became  actively  engaged  in  the  development  of  the 
business.  With  only  a  few  exceptions  these  men  are  the  active  managers, 
assisted  by  others  who  are  receiving  managerial  education  in  the  different 
departments.  The  company  was  organized  to  distribute  in  the  most  eco- 
nomical manner  possible  the  entire  line  of  food  products  and  from  the 
small  beginning  in  1907  it  has  developed  a  distribution  which  places  it 


494  History  of  McLean  County 

among  the  leading  concerns  of  its  kind  in  the  central  west.  Originally- 
located  in  the  uptown  district  the  company  moved  to  its  present  track 
location  after  a  fire  in  1911,  and  in  this  location  has  every  facility  for 
the  quick  and  economical  handling  of  its  merchandise.  Under  this  roof 
there  are  coffee  roasters,  sugar  grinding,  nut  roasting,  cereal  and  coffee 
packing  machinery,  all  of  the  most  modern  type.  Cold  storage  rooms 
and  up  to  date  handling  and  shipping  equipment  enables  the  company  to 
give  the  very  best  service. 

The  growth  of  the  company  has  been  steady  year  by  years.  Its 
proprietary  brands,  namely,  "Happy  Hour,"  "Camel"  and  "Red  Mill"  are 
now  household  words  in  thousands  of  homes. 

The  Campbell  Holton  &  Company  is  capitalized  at  $400,000.  Present 
officers  and  directors  are:  Campbell  Holton,  president;  H.  W.  Kelly,  vice- 
president;  E.  M.  Evans,  treasurer;  C.  A.  Stephenson,  secretary;  H.  A. 
Florence,  J.  M.  Waterson,  C.  B.  Holton,  A.  J.  Means,  R.  H.  Norton,  C.  R. 
Stuckey,  William  Nicol  and  H.  W.  Kelly,  Jr.,  directors. 

Campbell  Holton  was  married  to  Miss  Adelaide  May  Blake,  a  native 
of  Clinton,  111.,  born  in  1867,  and  the  daughter  of  J.  H.  and  Susan  (Ford) 
Blake,  natives  of  Ireland.  Mr.  Blake  was  a  well  known  dry  goods  mer- 
chant at  Clinton,  111.,  for  many  years.  He  died  in  1913  and  his  wife 
died  in  1905.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Holton  two  children  have  been  born: 
Campbell  Blake,  born  in  1894,  associated  in  business  with  his  father,  and 
Ellen  Margaret,  born  in  1904. 

Mr.  Holton  and  his  family  are  members  of  the  Christian  Church.  He 
belongs  to  the  Masonic  lodge  and  Consistory  of  Bloomington  and  the 
Shrine  at  Peoria. 

During  the  World  war  Mr.  Holton  was  active  in  Red  Cross  work  and 
other  important  wartime  activities. 


C.  A.  Stephenson,  secretary  and  credit  manager  of  the  Campbell 
Holton  Company  of  Bloomington,  is  well  and  favorably  known  through- 
out McLean  County.  He  was  born  at  Heyworth,  111.,  June  25,  1874,  and 
is  a  son  of  George  and  Sarah  Marie  (VanOrdstraud)  Stephenson. 

George  Stephenson  was  born  in  Jefferson  County,  Ohio,  in  1837.  The 
Stephenson  family  originally  came  from  England.  Mr.  Stephenson  was  an 
early  settler  of  Heyworth,  111.,  and  was  a  carpenter  and  cabinet  maker 


History  of  McLean  County  495 

by  trade.  He  made  coffins  for  many  years  and  later  engaged  in  the  under- 
taking business.  Later,  however,  he  became  a  building  contractor  and 
constructed  many  of  the  early  wooden  bridges  and  buildings  at  Heyworth. 
In  1886  he  removed  to  Normal  and  engaged  in  business  there.  He  now 
resides  at  Palms,  Cal,  and  is  86  years  of  age.  His  wife  was  a  native 
of  Washington  County,  Pa.  She  came  west  with  her  brothers,  Isaac  and 
John  Van  Ordstraud,  who  were  large  landowners  of  McLean  County. 
She  died  at  Normal,  Aug.  31,  1911,  at  the  age  of  63  years.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Stephenson  were  the  parents  of  seven  children,  as  follows:  Nonie  J., 
married  0.  B.  Balch,  lives  at  Oak  Park,  111. ;  Oakley  V.,  lives  at  Palms, 
Cal. ;  Anna  M.,  married  Louis  H.  Haney,  lives  at  East  Orange,  N.  J. ;  Will, 
lives  in  Chicago;  C.  A.,  the  subject  of  this  sketch;  J.  R.,  lives  in  Cleveland, 
and  Robert,  died  in  infancy. 

C.  A.  Stephenson  lived  in  Heyworth  until  he  was  12  years  of  age 
when  his  people  moved  to  Normal.  After  attending  the  public  and  high 
schools  of  Normal,  he  taught  school  west  of  Heyworth  for  one  year.  He 
then  was  employed  as  bookkeeper  and  salesman  by  the  W.  W.  Marmon 
Company,  a  wholesale  drug  house.  After  being  in  the  employ  of  this 
company  for  six  years  he  was  employed  as  bookkeeper  by  the  Keiser- 
VanLeer  Company  for  four  years.  His  next  position  was  that  of  office 
manager  for  the  G.  H.  Reed  Company,  where  he  remained  four  years. 
Mr.  Stephenson  has  been  associated  with  the  Campbell  Holton  Company 
since  the  time  of  its  organization  in  1907. 

The  Campbell  Holton  Company  is  one  of  the  leading  business  enter- 
prises of  Bloomington.  It  was  organized  with  a  $100,000  capital  which 
has  since  been  increased  to  $400,000.  There  are  20  traveling  men  who 
represent  the  firm  within  a  radius  of  60  miles  from  Bloomington. 

Mr.  Stephenson  was  married  on  Sept.  6,  1899,  to  Miss  Amy  B.  Jenkins, 
a  native  of  Vermont,  111.,  and  the  daughter  of  Milton  Jenkins.  Mr.  Jenkins 
is  a  pioneer  resident  of  Fulton  County,  III,  and  resides  at  Vermont.  His 
wife  died  May  15,  1908.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Stephenson  five  children  have 
been  born,  as  follows :  Louise,  lives  in  Chicago ;  Beatrice,  lives  in  Chicago ; 
Charles,  Jr. ;  Cassaline  Ann  and  Raymond  Rubert. 

Mr.  Stephenson  is  a  director  of  the  Bloomington  Country  Club,  a  Di- 
rector of  the  Association  of  Commerce,  and  is  a  member  of  the  board  of 
education.  He  belongs  to  the  Christian  Church  and  is  a  32nd  degree 
Mason.  Mr.  Stephenson  is  an  alert  business  man  and  is  accounted  one 
of  the  substantial  citizens  of  Bloomington. 


496  History  of  McLean  County 

Oliver  W.  Dimlap,  president  of  the  Dunlap  Manufacturing  Company 
of  Blooming-ton,  represents  a  family  fittingly  assigned  a  conspicuous 
place  among  the  manufacturing  agencies  of  McLean  County.  He  is  a 
native  son  of  Bloomington  Township,  and  was  born  in  District  No.  4,  in 
1866,  the  son  of  Elizer  and  Lucinda  N.  Dunlap. 

In  1865  Elizer  Dunlap,  a  native  of  Champaign  County,  Ohio,  arrived 
in  McLean  County,  locating  on  a  small  farm  just  south  of  the  town  of 
Bloomnigton,  the  improvement  of  which  became  incidental  to  quite  an 
extensive  trade  in  timber  and  lumber.  Mr.  Dunlap  was  a  broad  minded 
and  ambitious  man,  and  was  destined  to  fill  a  much  larger  place  in  the 
business  world  of  Bloomington,  being  one  of  the  organizers  and  promot- 
ers of  the  Bloomington  Pressed  Brick  Company,  with  which  he  was  con- 
nected at  the  time  of  his  death,  in  January,  1902.  He  was  a  staunch 
Prohibitionist,  and  a  man  of  high  moral  purpose  and  character. 

Oliver  W.  Dunlap  was  educated  in  the  country  and  city  schools,  and 
eventually  took  a  course  at  the  Evergreen  City  Business  College  in 
Bloomington.  He  was  interested  in  his  father's  wood  business  for  sev- 
eral years,  and  in  1886  entered  into  partnership  in  the  brick  business  with 
William  M.  Cannon,  under  the  firm  name  of  Dunlap  and  Cannon,  operat- 
ing the  yard  formerly  conducted  by  Heafer  and  McGregor.  Mr.  Dunlap 
learned  brick  making  in  his  characteristic,  thorough  and  enthusiastic 
way,  and  continued  in  the  above  business  until  the  fall  of  1891.  In  1892 
he  and  his  father  considered  the  plan  of  establishing  a  brick  manufactory, 
and  after  thorough  investigation,  in  the  fall  of  that  year,  purchased  the 
required  machinery.  In  the  spring  of  1893  the  originators  were  ready 
for  business  and  began  to  manufacture  by  the  dry-pressed  process.  The 
company  was  then  incorporated.  In  1896  Mr.  Dunlap  invented  the  Per- 
fect Clay  Screen,  which  was  sold  throughout  the  world  and  in  1911  he 
gave  up  his  interest  in  the  brick  business  and  founded  the  Oil  of  Glad- 
ness Mop,  or  the  Dunlap  Manufacturing  Company,  Incorporated,  of  which 
he  is  president.  Mr.  Dunlap's  residence  is  located  at  609  West  Jefferson 
Street,  Bloomington. 

On  Oct.  12,  1898,  Mr.  Dunlap  married  Miss  Maude  D.  Coates,  a  native 
of  Valparaiso,  Ind.,  and  the  daughter  of  the  late  Dr.  H.  C.  and  Emiline  S. 
Coates.    They  have  no  children. 

Mr.  Dunlap  is  identified  with  the  Republican  party  in  politics.  He 
is  an  enterprising  and  progressive  business  man  and  is  widely  known. 


OLIVER  W.  DUNLAP. 


OF 


History  of  McLean  County  497 

John  W.  Rodgers,  president  of  the  Liberty  State  Bank,  is  a  prominent 
citizen  of  Bloomington.  He  was  born  at  Lafayette,  Ind.,  Oct.  5,  1851,  and 
is  the  son  of  Joseph  and  Eliza  (Tolman)  Rodgers. 

Joseph  Rodgers  was  born  in  Merriot,  Somersetshire,  England,  in 
1823,  and  his  wife  was  a  native  of  New  Hampshire,  born  in  1830.  He 
came  to  the  United  States  in  1843  and  located  in  Detroit,  Mich.,  where  he 
was  married.  Later  the  Rodgers  family  moved  to  Lafayette,  Ind.,  and 
from  there  to  Attica,  Ind.,  where  Mr.  Rodgers  conducted  a  grocery  busi- 
ness He  died  in  1909,  and  his  wife  died  in  1880.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Rodgers 
were  the  parents  of  13  children,  six  of  whom  grew  to  maturity,  as  fol- 
lows: William,  was  killed  in  1866  on  the  Chicago  &  Alton  Railroad,  at 
Brighton  crossing;  Edwin,  married  Lottie  Havens,  and  died  in  Hanford, 
Cal.,  in  1917;  John  W.,  the  subject  of  this  sketch;  Lew  J.,  a  grocer,  lives 
in  Bloomington,  and  is  married  to  Margaret  Dwyer;  Frank  T.,  married 
Margaret  Mahoney  and  died  in  1908,  and  Robert  L.,  a  grocer  in  Bloom- 
ington, married  Elizabeth  Bell. 

John  W.  Rodgers  was  educated  in  Indiana  and  after  finishing  his 
schooling  was  engaged  as  a  shoe  clerk  in  Attica,  Ind.  In  xMay,  1881,  he 
removed  to  Bloomington,  111.,  where  he  engaged  in  the  shoe  business  on 
Main  street.  Mr.  Rodgers'  business,  known  as  the  John  W.  Rodgers  Shoe 
Company,  of  which  he  is  president,  has  been  in  the  same  location  for 
43  years.  He  also  is  president  of  the  Gerhart  Shoe  Company,  which  is 
operated  by  his  son  at  116  North  Center  street,  Bloomington. 

On  May  5,  1919,  the  Liberty  State  Bank  of  Bloomington  was  or- 
ganized with  the  following  officers :  John  W.  Rodgers,  as  president ;  Philip 
Wood,  vice-president ;  P.  A.  Johnson,  cashier,  and  Russell  Schearer,  assist- 
ant cashier.  The  bank  was  organized  with  a  capital  stock  of  $100,000.00 
and  a  surplus  of  $25,000.00.  Before  removing  to  its  new  building  at  119 
North  Main  street,  in  July,  1923,  it  was  located  at  206  West  Jefferson 
street. 

On  Jan.  13,  1876,  Mr.  Rodgers  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Ophelia  F.  Hosier,  a  daughter  of  Benjamin  and  Lydia  (Scheibley)  Hosier, 
natives  of  Pennsylvania.  Mrs.  Rodgers  was  born  in  Fountain  County, 
Ind.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Rodgers  three  children  have  been  born,  as  follows: 
Robert  C,  born  in  1878,  engaged  in  the  shoe  business  at  Bloomington, 
married  Margaret  O'Neil,  the  daughter  of  William  O'Neil,  and  they  have 
two  children,  Florence  and  Catherine;  John  W.,  Jr.,  born  in  1885,  a  shoe 

(30) 


498  History  of  McLean  County 

merchant  of  Bloomington,  married  Alice  Hulva,  a  daughter  of  Frank 
Hulva,  and  they  have  one  child,  John  W.,  III. ;  and  Harry  H.,  born  in 
1889,  a  shoe  merchant  in  Bloomington,  married  Jane  Smith,  a  daughter  of 
G.  Smith,  of  Bloomington,  and  they  have  two  children,  Bradford  and 
Myra  Jane. 

Mr.  Rodgers  was  appointed  superintendent  of  the  Illinois  Soldiers' 
Orphans'  Home  by  Governor  Lowden  and  served  in  this  capacity  from 
Dec.  15,  1917,  until  June  6,  1921.  He  is  a  Republican,  and  was  a  candidate 
for  mayor  of  Bloomington  in  1914,  but  was  defeated  by  E.  E.  Jones.  He 
has  served  four  years  in  the  city  council  as  alderman  of  the  Fourth  Ward 
and  has  also  served  on  the  county  board  of  Supervisors  for  six  years. 
He  was  chairman  the  year  of  the  erection  of  the  Soldiers'  monument 
which  stands  in  Miller  Park,  and  formally  dedicated  the  same.  His  name 
is  engraved  on  the  bronze  tablet  as  chairman.  December,  1916,  he  was 
elected  presidential  elector  to  vote  for  Hughes  and  Fairbanks.  Wilson  and 
Marshall  defeated  them.  Mr.  Rodgers  is  a  member  of  the  First  Presby- 
terian Church,  is  a  32nd  degree  Mason,  and  belongs  to  No.  77  of  the  Inde- 
pendent Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  was  trustee  for  15  years,  assisted  in 
building  the  I.  0.  0.  F.  Temple  on  Jefferson  street  in  1900.  He  is  also  a 
member  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  and  the  Red  Men.  He  has  an  extensive 
acquaintance  in  McLean  County  and  stands  high  in  the  community. 


Enoch  Brock,  who  has  been  successfully  engaged  in  the  practice  of 
law  at  Bloomington  since  1886,  when  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar,  is  a 
native  of  Grainger  County,  Tenn.  He  was  born  Sept.  17,  1855,  the  son 
of  James  and  Rachel  (Akins)  Brock. 

James  Brock  was  born  in  Grainger  County,  Tenn.,  and  he  was  of 
Scotch  descent,  his  parents  having  come  from  Scotland  to  Maryland.  They 
later  moved  to  Virginia  and  later  to  North  Carolina,  and  finally  to  Ten- 
nessee. His  wife  was  of  English  descent  and  her  ancestors  were  early 
settlers  of  Tennessee.  On  Jan.  4,  1861,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  James  Brock  moved 
their  family  to  McLean  County,  III,  making  the  trip  by  rail.  They  set- 
tled on  a  farm  and  Mr.  Brock  became  a  leading  farmer  and  stockman  of 
the  county.  He  died  March  20,  1909,  at  LeRoy,  and  his  wife  died  Sept. 
18,  1910,  at  LeRoy.  They  are  both  buried  in  Oak  Grove  Cemetery  east 
of  LeRoy.     Enoch  Brock,   the  subject  of  this   sketch,   is  one  of  three 


History  of  McLean  County  499 

children  living,  as  follows:  Sarah  F.,  married  E.  I.  Harrison,  lives  at 
Bloomington,  and  Rachel,  married  Charles  Null,  lives  at  LeRoy. 

Enoch  Brock  was  reared  on  his  father's  farm  and  remembers  many- 
incidents  of  the  Civil  War  days.  He  received  his  education  in  the  district 
schools  and  attended  Illinois  Wesleyan  University  at  Bloomington,  from 
which  he  was  graduated  in  the  law  department  in  1886.  Since  that  time 
Mr.  Brock  has  engaged  in  practice  at  Bloomington  and  he  is  widely  known 
throughout  the  county. 

On  Sept.  20,  1876,  Enoch  Brock  married  Miss  Mattie  Crumbaugh,  a 
native  of  LeRoy,  and  the  daughter  of  Montgomery  and  Mary  (West) 
Crumbaugh,  the  former  a  native  of  Kentucky  and  an  early  settler  of 
McLean  County  in  1840.  Mary  West  was  the  daughter  of  Henry  West, 
also  a  native  of  Kentucky  and  early  settler  of  McLean  County,  after 
whom  the  township,  West  Township,  is  named.  To  Enoch  and  Mattie 
(Crumbaugh)  Brock  three  children  have  been  born,  as  follows:  Letta, 
now  the  wife  of  Edward  C.  Stone,  editor  of  the  Washington  Post  on 
Markets,  Washington,  D.  C. ;  Mabel,  married  William  Y.  Mickle,  profes- 
sor in  the  John  B.  Stetson  University  of  DeLand,  Fla.,  and  Bernice,  mar- 
ried M.  F.  Ainsworth,  seed  dealer  and  farmer  of  Mason  City,  111. 

Mr.  Brock  is  a  member  of  the  Phi  Delta  Phi  law  fraternity.  He  is  a 
Democrat.  He  is  a  man  who  is  highly  esteemed  in  the  community  and 
he  is  a  reliable  and  substantial  citizen  of  Bloomington. 


Ralph  Spafford,  managing  officer  of  the  Illinois  Soldiers'  Orphans' 
Home  at  Normal  and  former  sheriff  of  McLean  County,  is  a  native  of 
Illinois.  He  was  born  in  DeWitt  County,  July  17,  1874,  and  is  the  son  of 
Ira  J.  and  Jane  (Smith)  Spafford. 

Ira  J.  Spafford  was  a  native  of  Ontario,  Canada,  and  settled  in  DeWitt 
County,  111.,  when  he  was  a  young  man.  During  the  latter  fifties  he 
removed  to  McLean  County  but  later  returned  to  DeWitt  County.  After 
four  years,  however,  he  returned  to  McLean  County  and  lived  in  Bloom- 
ington the  remainder  of  his  life.  Mr.  Spafford  was  general  agent  for  the 
Howe  Scales  Company  in  Illinois  for  43  years.  He  died  in  1916,  and  his 
widow  lives  in  Bloomington.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Spafford  were  the  parents  of 
five  children,  three  of  whom  are  now  living,  as  follows:  Fred  H.,  lives 


500  History  of  McLean  County 

in  Los  Angeles,  Cal. ;  Ralph,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  and  W.  C,  who 
lives  in  Bloomington. 

Ralph  Spafford  was  reared  and  educated  in  Bloomington  and  when 
he  was  a  young  man  learned  photography  and  photo  engraving  which 
he  followed  successfully  in  Bloomington  until  1915.  He  then  became 
chief  deputy  sheriff  under  Sheriff  George  Fletcher,  and  was  elected  sheriff 
in  1918,  which  office  he  held  for  two  and  one-half  years.  He  resigned 
to  accept  his  present  position. 

Mr.  Spafford  was  married  on  Sept.  23,  1897,  to  Edna  Still  McElhiney, 
a  native  of  Bloomington.  They  have  five  children  as  follows:  Louise,  a 
graduate  of  Illinois  State  Normal  University,  teaches  in  the  Pekin  public 
schools,  Pekin,  111. ;  Paul,  a  student  in  University  High  School  at  Normal ; 
Ira,  Arthur  and  Lewis,  all  students. 

Mr.  Spafford  has  always  been  a  Republican.  He  served  as  president 
of  the  Illinois  State  Photographers'  Association,  and  is  secretary  and 
president  of  the  National  Photographers'  Association.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  First  Methodist  Church  and  belongs  to  the  Elks  lodge  and  the 
Modern  Woodmen  of  America.  He  is  a  32nd  degree  Mason  and  charter 
member  of  the  Bloomington  Consistory  and  a  member  of  the  Mahomet 
Shrine  of  Peoria.  Mr.  Spafford  is  a  dependable  citizen  and  is  well  known 
in  McLean  County. 


Orson  L.  Manchester,  the  Dean  of  the  Illinois  State  Normal  Univer- 
sity, and  former  Mayor  of  Normal,  is  a  native  of  Illinois.  He  was  born 
in  Lake  County,  Feb.  19,  1864,  and  is  a  son  of  John  P.  and  Sylvia  (Dem- 
mon)  Manchester,  the  former  a  native  of  New  York  and  the  latter  of 
Ohio. 

In  boyhood  Orson  L.  Manchester  attended  the  public  schools  of 
Waukegan  and  after  finishing  high  school  spent  one  year  teaching.  He 
then  entered  Dartmouth  College,  finishing  the  course  there  in  1886.  While 
pursuing  his  studies  at  Dartmouth  he  taught  in  New  England  village 
high  schools  for  five  terms.  On  completing  his  education  he  was  engaged 
in  teaching  at  Billerica,  Mass.,  and  at  Sing  Sing,  N.  Y.,  and  subsequently 
located  at  Joliet,  111.,  where  he  occupied  the  position  of  high  school  prin- 
cipal for  more  than  three  years.  In  1891  Mr.  Manchester  was  called  to 
Normal,  III,  where  he  was  principal  of  the  State  High  School  until  1895. 
When  the  high  school  department  of  the  State  Normal  University  was 


History  of  McLean  County  501 

discontinued  in  1895,  he  assumed  the  position  as  professor  of  Economics 
and  Foreign  Languages.  He  holds  the  degrees  of  A.  B.  and  A.  M.  from 
Dartmouth,  and  that  of  LL.D.  from  Illinois  Wesleyan  University. 

On  July  10,  1891,  Prof.  Manchester  was  united  in  marriage  at  Joliet, 
111.,  with  Miss  Kitty  Buck,  who  was  born  near  that  city,  the  daughter  of 
George  and  Martha  Buck.  To  this  union  one  child  was  born,  who  died  in 
infancy,  the  mother  also  dying  at  this  time.  Mr.  Manchester  was  mar- 
ried a  second  time  in  Warrensburg,  111.,  on  Dec.  25,  1895,  to  Miss  Flora 
Thompson,  a  native  of  that  place,  and  the  daughter  of  George  and  Mary 
(Langston)  Thompson.  To  this  union  have  been  born  five  children, 
namely:  Miriam,  Margaret,  Charlotte  and  Gertrude,  twins,  and  a  boy, 
who  died  in  infancy. 

On  political  issues  Mr.  Manchester  votes  independently.  He  served 
as  mayor  of  Normal  for  ten  years,  having  been  elected  originally  on  a 
reform  issue  after  a  somewhat  remarkable  campaign.  He  has  served  as 
president  of  the  Normal  Improvement  Association.  Socially  and  pro- 
fessionally Mr.  Manchester  is  among  the  leading  and  influential  citizens 
of  Normal.  He  has  been  president  of  the  Central  Division  of  the  Illinois 
State  Teachers  Association,  and  is  at  present  president  of  the  whole  State 
Association,  a  body  having  approximately  thirty  thousand  members. 


Judge  Lawrence  Weldon,  one  of  the  most  distinguished  men  who 
ever  honored  the  McLean  County  bar,  was  an  intimate  friend  of  Lincoln 
and  Douglas,  and  for  many  years  a  member  of  the  Federal  Court  of 
Claims  at  Washington.  He  died  while  engaged  in  his  official  duties  con- 
nected with  that  high  judicial  position,  death  occurring  on  April  10,  1905, 
after  an  illness  of  only  a  few  days.  Indeed,  so  short  was  the  notice  of  his 
serious  illness  that  his  son  and  daughter,  Lincoln  H.  Weldon  of  Bloom- 
ington,  Mrs.  Claiborne  Hanna  of  Peoria,  had  started  to  Washington  but 
"had  not  yet  reached  there  when  the  end  came.  He  was  at  the  Hotel  Ham- 
ilton in  Washington  when  death  came,  this  being  the  same  hotel  in  wh!ch 
Gen.  John  McNulta,  another  distinguished  citizen  of  McLean  County,  had 
died  eight  years  previously.  Judge  Weldon  had  been  in  fair  health  up 
to  a  week  prior  to  his  death,  when  he  was  seized  with  a  derangement  of 
the  liver  and  bowels,  which  seemed  to  yield  to  treatment  and  hopes  for 
his  recovery  was  entertained  until  only  three  days  before  death  came. 


502  History  of  McLean  County 

Lawrence  Weldon  was  born  in  Zanesville,  Ohio,  on  Aug.  9,  1829.  He 
was  educated  in  the  common  schools  of  Madison  County,  at  London  Acad- 
emy, and  at  Wittenberg  College,  Springfield,  Ohio,  although  he  did  not 
graduate  from  the  latter  institution.  He  studied  law  under  Judge  Rich- 
ard A.  Harrison  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  Ohio  in  1854.  In  Decem- 
ber of  the  same  year  he  was  married  to  Miss  Mary  Jane  Howard.  He  was 
clerk  in  the  office  of  the  secretary  of  state  in  Ohio  in  1852  and  1853.  In 
the  latter  year  Judge  Weldon  removed  to  Clinton,  111.,  and  established  him- 
self in  the  practice  of  law. 

While  a  young  lawyer  in  Clinton,  Judge  Weldon  first  met  Abraham 
Lincoln,  who  was  then  riding  the  circuit  of  the  old  Eighth  judicial  dis- 
trict, of  which  David  Davis  of  Bloomington  was  one  of  the  judges. 
Judge  Weldon  was  the  last  survivor  of  that  famous  group  of  men  who 
rode  the  circuit  and  practiced  law  in  the  dozen  or  more  counties  of 
central  Illinois  at  the  same  time  with  Lincoln.  He  knew  Lincoln  inti- 
mately, and  in  his  later  life  Judge  Weldon  related  many  incidents  illus- 
trating the  character  of  the  great  martyred  president  in  the  years  before 
he  became  known  to  fame.  He  recalled  the  fact  that  Stephen  A.  Douglas 
was  the  man  who  introduced  him  to  Lincoln.  In  a  Chautauqua  lecture 
in  his  later  years,  Judge  Weldon  told  the  story  of  the  introduction.  They 
were  at  a  hotel  together,  and  Douglas  asked  Lincoln  to  have  a  drink  with 
him,  that  being  an  ordinary  courtesy  in  those  days.  Lincoln  declined, 
and  Douglas  asked  rather  tauntingly:  "Are  you  temperance"?  meaning 
to  ask  if  he  was  a  total  abstainer.  Lincoln  replied:  "I  don't  know  about 
that,  but  I  don't  drink." 

In  1861  Mr.  Lincoln  appointed  Judge  Weldon  U.  S.  District  Attorney 
for  the  Southern  District  of  Illinois.  He  was  elected  to  the  legislature 
for  the  session  of  1861.  In  the  year  1867  he  removed  from  Clinton  to 
Bloomington  and  soon  established  himself  in  a  good  law  practice  with 
General  John  McNulta  as  a  partner.  For  a  time  he  was  a  law  partner 
with  the  late  Judge  Reuben  M.  Benjamin.  In  the  year  1883,  Judge  Weldon 
was  appointed  by  President  Chester  A.  Arthur  as  a  member  of  the  United 
States  Court  of  Claims  at  Washington.  The  judge  removed  to  Wash- 
ington so  far  as  his  official  position  was  concerned,  although  he  retained 
his  home  in  Bloomington  until  the  time  of  his  death.  His  home  was  at 
407  East  Grove  Street. 

Judge  Weldon  served  for  many  years  as  an  instructor  in  the  Wes- 
leyan  Law  School.     He  was  one  of  the  leading  citizens  of  Bloomington. 


History  of  McLean  County  503 

In  his  honor  one  of  the  streets  of  Bloomington  was  named  Weldon  Street. 
During  his  residence  in  Washington  while  he  occupied  the  judgeship  of 
the  Court  of  Claims,  he  was  a  favorite  in  many  of  the  capital's  social 
circles.  His  amiable  nature,  ready  wit,  and  his  eloquence  on  occasion, 
made  him  much  respected  and  beloved  in  his  circle  of  acquaintances. 

At  the  time  of  his  death,  feeling  tributes  were  paid  in  published 
statements  by  former  Vice  President  Adlai  E.  Stevenson,  by  former  Gov- 
ernor Joseph  W.  Fifer,  by  Senator  Cullom,  by  Col.  Vespasian  Warner,  then 
commissioner  of  pensions  in  Washington,  and  many  others  in  public  life. 
Mr.  Stephenson  said  that  the  position  Judge  Weldon  occupied  was  second 
in  importance  only  to  a  position  on  the  supreme  bench  of  the  United 
States.  He  filled  it  with  eminent  distinction,  Gov.  Fifer  recalled  the  fact 
that  Judge  Weldon  was  of  the  younger  of  the  group  of  men  who  had 
associated  with  Lincoln  in  his  days  as  a  lawyer,  this  group  including 
David  Davis,  Jesse  W.  Fell,  Isaac  Funk,  William  H.  Hanna,  Asahel  Grid- 
ley,  William  W.  Orme,  Leonard  Swett,  Ward  H.  Lamon  and  others.  Sen- 
ator Shelby  Cullom  spoke  of  Judge  Weldon  as  "one  of  the  most  lovable 
and  faithful  of  men,  as  well  as  one  of  the  most  brilliant  and  charming." 

At  his  bedside  in  Washington  at  the  time  of  his  death  were  Mrs. 
Weldon,  Colonel  and  Mrs.  Vespasian  Warner.  Governor  Fifer  and  Senator 
Cullom  called  at  the  house  shortly  before  the  end  came. 

Mrs.  Weldon,  the  widow,  survived  her  husband  until  the  year  1910, 
and  the  daughter,  Mrs.  Hanna  of  Peoria,  died  in  1911.  The  son,  Lincoln 
H.  Weldon,  of  Bloomington,  is  the  only  surviving  member  of  the  imme- 
diate family  at  present. 

The  funeral  of  Judge  Weldon  was  a  notable  one  for  its  gathering  of 
persons  of  prominence  in  Central  Illinois  and  elsewhere.  The  body  reached 
Bloomington  on  April  14,  and  the  service  was  held  at  the  Second  Pres- 
byterian Church.  Rev.  Henry  E.  Denlinger,  the  pastor,  delivered  a  feel- 
ing eulogy.    The  burial  was  in  the  family  lot  of  the  Bloomington  Cemetery. 

On  April  17,  1905,  the  Court  of  Claims  held  a  special  memorial  serv- 
ice at  its  court  room  in  Washington  in  honor  of  Judge  Weldon.  The 
room  was  filled  with  a  distinguished  company,  including  many  close 
personal  friends  of  Judge  Weldon.  Justice  Nott  presided.  Among  the 
distinguished  Illinoisans  present  were  Senator  Cullom,  Gov.  Fifer  of  the 
interstate  commerce  commission,  and  Pension  Commissioner  Vespasian 
Warner.  Hon.  J.  G.  Thompson,  of  Illinois,  assistant  attorney  of  the 
court  of  claims,  offered  a  resolution  on  the  death  of  Judge  Weldon  and 


504  History  of  McLean  County 

moved  its  adoption.  Addresses  in  favor  of  the  resolution  were  made  by- 
Justice  Nott,  by  Gov.  Fifer,  Hon.  Frank  W.  Hackett,  former  assistant 
secretary  of  the  navy;  Hon.  F.  W.  Collins  of  Nebraska,  representative  of 
the  department  of  justice;  Hon.  L.  G.  Pradt,  assistant  attorney  of  the 
court  of  claims;  St.  Claire  Brookes,  W.  H.  Robinson  and  Mr.  J.  Hubley 
Ashton.  The  resolution  was  adopted  and  spread  upon  the  minutes  of  the 
Court  of  Claims. 


Rev.  Thomas  Tilghman  Holton. — The  ancestors  of  Mr.  Holton  were 
Virginians  of  pre-Revolutionary  stock.  William  Holton,  the  grandfather, 
migrated  from  Farquler  County  to  Mason  County,  Ky.  He  was  at  the 
battle  of  Tippecanoe  and  through  the  War  of  1812.  He  was  a  member  of 
the  first  legislative  body  of  Kentucky  with  Henry  Clay  and  Felix  Grundy. 
William  B.  Holton,  father  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  born  in 
Minerva,  Mason  County,  Ky.  The  mother  was  Sallie  Price  Tilghman, 
who  was  born  in  Albermarle  County,  Va.  Her  mother's  name  was  Lewis. 
As  a  young  girl  she  was  often  invited  with  other  young  folk  to  the  home 
of  Thomas  Jefferson  on  Monticello,  near  Charlottesville.  While  she  was 
still  in  her  teens  her  father,  Jacob  Tilghman,  took  his  family  to  Wilson 
County,  Tenn.,  and  settled  near  the  Hermitage,  about  14  miles  east  of 
Nashville.  The  Jackson  family  were  very  friendly  and  again  Miss  Tilgh- 
man was  often  a  guest  in  the  family  of  an  ex-president.  William  Holton, 
Sr.,  having  bought  a  farm  on  Stone  River,  Tenn.,  sent  his  son  to  look  after 
it.  While  thus  engaged  he  met  Miss  Tilghman  and  in  due  time  a  mar- 
riage was  consummated.  They  resided  in  Wilson  County,  near  the  Her- 
mitage, until  six  children  were  born  to  them.  About  this  time  William 
Holton,  Sr.,  suggested  that  as  many  of  the  family  as  were  willing  buy  a 
tract  of  land  in  Brown  County,  Ohio,  near  Aberdeen,  and  fronting  on  the 
Ohio  River.  Dr.  E.  G.  Holton  and  William  B.  joined  their  father  in  this 
move.  The  city  of  Maysville,  on  the  Kentucky  side,  was  not  far  away. 
Here  the  family  for  the  most  part  attended  church  and  Sunday  school. 
Here  Thomas  Tilghman  Holton,  the  ninth  of  thirteen  children,  was  born, 
Nov.  17,  1839. 

There  was  a  school  house  on  Three  Mile  Creek  at  a  reasonable  dis- 
tance where  Rev.  Holton  attended  school  until  prepared  to  enter  Hill 
Seminary  at  Aberdeen.     When  not  at  school  he  worked  on  the  farm. 


REV.   THOMAS    T.    HOI/TON. 


lie 


History  of  McLean  County  505 

One  of  the  leading  crop  was  tobacco.  He  early  learned  to  swim,  fish  and 
handle  a  boat.  Toward  the  close  of  his  15th  year  he  entered  the  South- 
western Normal  School  of  Ohio,  located  at  Lebanon,  under  the  supervision 
of  Prof.  Alfred  Holbrook,  a  peer  of  Horace  Mann  and  Henry  Barnard. 
With  a  certificate  graded  100  he  took  the  principalship  of  Genntown 
school,  near  Lebanon,  while  not  yet  17  years  of  age.  He  was  allowed  a 
lady  assistant  and  a  salary  of  $33.33  a  month.  He  boarded  with  Jesse  B. 
Corwin  for  $2.50  per  week.  The  following  year  he  again  attended  the 
normal  school.  In  October  1858,  he  became  a  student  in  Bethany  College, 
Virginia,  and  continued  four  years.  Alexander  Campbell  was  the  dis- 
tinguished president.  Mr.  Holton  was  the  valedictorian  of  his  class.  He 
was  soon  after  graduation  called  to  a  professorship  in  Jefferson  College, 
Jeffersontown,  Ky.,  12  miles  from  Louisville.  Early  in  1864  he  estab- 
lished an  academy  in  Falmouth,  Ky.  He  had  been  preaching  more  or 
less  in  connection  with  his  teaching,  and  in  1866  concluded  to  devote  his 
whole  time  to  the  Christian  ministry  and  receiving  a  call  to  the  church 
in  Vincennes,  Ind.,  he  responded  at  once.  In  1868  he  was  called  to  a 
pastorate  in  Springfield,  111.,  and  has  been  in  central  Illinois  ever  since. 
While  in  the  capital  city  he  acted  with  other  ministers  as  chaplain  of  a 
session  of  the  legislature  and  the  constitutional  convention.  After  this 
he  was  pastor  in  Berlin- and  principal  of  the  public  school.  The  next  move 
was  to  Lincoln,  111.,  where  Rev.  Holton  had  a  long  pastorate  and  his 
home  for  many  years.  When  no  longer  the  local  pastor,  with  Lincoln 
as  his  center,  he  served  churches  at  Pekin,  Atlanta,  Broadwell,  Emden, 
Bethel,  Delavan,  Old  Union,  Hallville,  and  Waynesville.  While  a  citizen 
in  Lincoln  he  clerked  two  years  in  Danley's  book  store,  seven  months  in 
Dustin's  bank,  some  time  in  Wright's  grocery  store  and  eight  years  as 
clerk  of  the  circuit  court  of  Logan  County. 

It  has  been  said  by  some  of  Rev.  Holton's  friends  that  during  much 
of  his  life  he  has  done  two  men's  work.  In  the  early  90's  he  moved  to 
Tallula  and  served  the  church  there  for  four  years,  then  moving  to 
DeLand  where  he  was  pastor  for  four  years.  In  1907  he  bought  a  home 
in  Bloomington  for  a  permanent  residence.  He  goes  right  on  in  his  min- 
isterial work  here  and  there  as  he  has  calls. 

Rev.  Holton  was  married  to  Miss  Ellen  Margaret  Campbell,  a  daugh- 
ter of  Archibald  and  Ann  (Carr)  Campbell,  who  came  to  America  from 
Newry,  County  Down,  Ireland,  when  Mrs.  Holton  was  a  child.  The  mar- 
riage took  place  in  the  old  Bethany  Church,  Nov.  18,  1862,  and  the  cere- 


506  History  of  McLean  County 

mony  was  performed  by  the  president  of  Bethany  College,  Alexander 
Campbell.  Six  children  blessed  this  union,  as  follows :  Helen  King,  was 
born  in  Falmouth,  Ky. ;  Campbell,  born  in  Vincennes,  Ind. ;  Pauline,  born 
in  Springfield,  111. ;  Mary  and  Annie,  born  in  Berlin,  111.,  and  Bettie,  born 
in  Lincoln,  111.  Mrs.  Holton  died  April  8,  1922.  Bettie  Holton  married 
W.  H.  Armstrong  of  Mechanicsburg,  111.,  and  she  died  in  1905.  Helen 
(Holton)  Lucas  resides  with  her  father  in  Bloomington.  Pauline  relict 
of  D.  G.  Evans,  resides  in  Rocky  Ford,  Colo.  Mary,  relict  of  R.  B.  Ruh, 
resides  at  Tallula,  111.  Annie,  married  Frank  McConnell,  resides  at  Mc- 
Connell  Place,  near  Lincoln,  111.  Campbell  Holton,  a  well  known  and  suc- 
cessful business  man  of  Bloomington,  resides  on  North  McLean  Street, 
next  door  to  his  father. 

Besides  his  church  relationship  Rev.  Holton  is  a  member  of  Beta 
Theta  Pi  fraternity,  Knights  of  Pythias  and  the  Masonic  lodge.  He  is 
a  worthy  member  of  his  community  and  is  highly  esteemed  throughout 
McLean  County. 


W.  W.  Whitmore,  attorney,  is  among  McLean  County's  most  promi- 
nent and  influential  citizens.  He  was  born  near  Gardner,  111.,  July  14, 
1870,  and  is  the  son  of  Benjamin  F.  and  Matilda  (Shelly)  Whitmore. 

Benjamin  F.  Whitmore  was  born  in  Hagerstown,  Md.,  and  his  wife  was 
a  native  of  Bucks  County,  Pa.  He  was  a  farmer  and  lived  in  Ohio  for 
several  years  before  coming  to  Grundy  County,  111.  He  died  in  1918  and 
his  wife  died  in  1922.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Whitmore  were  the  parents  of  three 
children,  as  follows:  Nathaniel  P.,  born  in  1867,  a  veterinary  surgeon,  died 
in  1913;  W.  W.,  the  subject  of  this  sketch;  and  Iva  Jane,  died  at  the 
age  of  two  years. 

W.  W.  Whitmore  received  his  education  in  the  public  schools  and 
was  graduated  from  the  literary  and  law  schools  of  Illinois  Wesleyan 
University  in  1894  and  1895.  He  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1894,  and 
practiced  his  profession  at  Peoria,  111.,  from  Oct.  1,  1895,  until  July,  1903. 
Mr.  Whitmore  was  city  attorney  of  Peoria  from  1901  to  1902.  He  has 
been  located  in  Bloomington  since  July,  1903. 

On  Jan.  20,  1909,  Mr.  Whitmore  was  married  to  Miss  Stella  Eldred,  a 
native  of  Gardner,  111.,  and  a  daughter  of  Eli  and  Mary  (Renne)  Eldred, 
the  former  a  native  of  Illinois  and  the  latter  of  New  York.     Mr.  Eldred 


History  of  McLean  County  507 

was  a  leading  merchant  in  Gardner  for  many  years  and  is  now  living 
retired.  His  wife  died  in  1906.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Whitmore  have  no  children. 
Mr.  Whitmore  is  a  Republican,  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  and  is  a  32nd  degree  Mason,  Knight  Templar  and  belongs  to  the 
Knights  of  Pythias.     His  law  office  is  located  in  the  Livingston  building. 


Charles  L.  Capen,  lawyer  and  dean  of  Illinois  Wesleyan  University, 
is  a  prominent  and  influential  citizen  of  McLean  County.  He  was  born  at 
Union  Springs,  Cayuga  County,  N.  Y.,  Jan.  31,  1845,  the  son  of  Luman  W. 
and  Eliza  (Munger)  Capen. 

On  March  19,  1865,  the  Capen  family  settled  on  a  small  farm  on  what 
is  now  Vale  street,  a  part  of  the  city  of  Bloomington.  The  following 
year  the  farm  was  sold  and  removal  had  into  the  city  where  Charles  L. 
Capen  has  since  resided.  He  is  a  member  of  the  first  class  of  the  Normal 
University  High  School,  from  which  he  was  graduated  in  1865.  He  then 
entered  Harvard  college,  where  he  graduated  in  1869,  with  the  degree  of 
Bachelor  of  Arts,  later  receiving  his  Master  of  Arts  degree.  In  1871 
Mr.  Capen  was  admitted  to  practice  and  became  a  member  of  the  law  firm 
of  Williams,  Burr  &  Capen,  which  continued  until  1902,  when  ill  healtn 
caused  the  retirement  of  Mr.  Burr.  The  firm  continued  as  Williams  & 
Capen  until  the  death  of  the  senior  member  in  1904,  and  since  that  time 
Mr.  Capen  has  been  alone.  In  1922  he  ceased  the  more  active  practice  but 
retains  an  office  in  the  Peoples'  Bank  building.  Among  his  many  clients 
he  has  been  local  attorney  of  the  Illinois  Central  Railroad  Company  for 
52  years. 

On  Oct.  27,  1875,  Mr.  Capen  was  married  to  Miss  Ella  E.  Briggs,  a 
daughter  of  Robert  W.  and  Charlotte  (Becker)  Briggs.  To  this  union 
two  children  have  been  born,  Charlotte,  born  Jan.  24,  1878,  and  Bernard 
C,  born  May  11,  1882,  lives  in  Denver,  Colo.  On  June  6,  1903,  Miss 
Charlotte  Capen  was  married  to  Percy  B.  Eckhart.  They  live  at  Kenil- 
worth,  111.,  and  have  four  daughters. 

Mr.  Capen  has  been  dean  of  Illinois  Wesleyan  University  since  1913, 
and  has  been  a  professor  in  the  Bloomington  Law  School,  a  department 
of  Illinois  Wesleyan  University,  since  1902.  He  teaches  the  subject  of 
Corporations,  Bailments  and  Common  Carriers,  and  Damages  and  Legal 
Ethics.     He  was  a  member  of  the  State  Board  of  Education  from  1883 


508  History  of  McLean  County 

until  it  was  abolished  in  1917  and  served  as  its  president  from  1913  until 
1917.  Upon  the  abolition  of  that  board  and  the  substitution  of  the  State 
Normal  School  Board,  he  was  appointed  by  Governor  Lowden  a  member 
of  the  latter  and  is  still  active  in  that  capacity.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
State  Bar  Association  and  was  its  president  from  1903  to  1904,  and  he  is 
also  a  member  of  the  American  Bar  Association.  Mr.  Capen  is  a  32nd 
degree  Mason,  a  charter  member  of  the  Alumni  Club,  and  has  lived  at 
710  North  East  street,  Bloomington,  since  1880.  He  is  a  reliable  and 
highly  esteemed  citizen  of  his  community. 


J.  C.  Hoselton,  retired,  is  a  veteran  of  the  Civil-  war  and  an  early 
settler  of  McLean  County.  He  was  born  in  Berlin,  Holmes  County,  Ohio, 
Aug.  9,  1844,  and  is  the  son  of  John  and  Nancy  (Dalby)  Hoselton. 

John  Hoselton  was  a  native  of  Washington  County,  Md.,  and  his 
wife  was  born  in  Washington  County,  Pa.  They  came  from  Ohio,  where 
they  had  settled  at  an  early  date,  to  Illinois  in  1857,  making  the  trip 
by  horse  and  wagon.  Mr.  Hoselton  rented  a  farm  and  also  worked  at 
his  trade  of  cabinet  maker.  He  manufactured  a  small  separator,  or  ma- 
chine, used  for  threshing  grain.  The  latter  part  of  his  career  was  spent 
on  his  farm  in  Normal  Township,  five  miles  north  of  Bloomington.  Mr. 
Hoselton  died  in  1872,  and  his  wife  died  five  years  later.  They  were  the 
parents  of  seven  children,  two  of  whom  are  now  living:  J.  C,  the  subject 
of  this  sketch,  and  John  H.,  who  lives  in  Springfield,  Mo. 

J.  C.  Hoselton  spent  his  boyhood  days  in  Ohio  and  on  his  father's 
farm  in  McLean  County.  He  enlisted  in  the  army  when  he  was  20  years 
old,  becoming  a  member  of  Company  I,  145th  Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry. 
After  serving  throughout  the  war  in -the  Army  of  the  West  in  Southern 
Missouri,  he  was  discharged  at  Springfield,  111.  Mr.  Hoselton  then  en- 
gaged in  farming  on  the  home  place  until  1884  when  he  came  to  Bloom- 
ington. He  became  a  contractor,  hauling  sand  for  building  purposes. 
After  ten  years  in  this  line  of  work  he  entered  the  employ  of  the  Bloom- 
ington Canning  Company.  He  now  lives  retired  at  Normal,  where  he  owns 
a  nice  home  at  the  corner  of  Normal  Avenue  and  Locust  Street. 

On  Nov.  7,  1871,  Mr.  Hoselton  was  married  to  Miss  Martha  Ann 
Gaddis,  a  native  of  White  Oak  Township,  McLean  County,  and  the  daugh- 
ter of  Silas  Gaddis,  a  pioneer  settler  of  Illinois,  having  come  here  from 
Tennessee.    Mrs.  Hoselton  died  Jan.  22,  1920. 


History  of  McLean  County  509 

Mr.  Hoselton  has  always  been  a  Republican  and  served  as  school 
director  in  the  early  days.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  lodge,  the 
Grand  Army  of  the  Republic,  and  belongs  to  the  Christian  Church,  as 
also  did  his  wife.  Mr.  Hoselton  is  a  substantial  citizen  and  a  highly 
esteemed  member  of  the  community. 


O.  C.  Hamilton,  owner  and  proprietor  of  the  Hamilton  Hotel,  is  a 
well  known  business  man  of  Bloomington.  He  was  born  in  Shelby  County, 
Mo.,  Jan.  11,  1872,  and  is  a  son  of  Charles  A.  and  Martha  (Moyers) 
Hamilton. 

The  Hamilton  family  is  of  old  Virginia  stock  and  both  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Charles  A.  Hamilton  were  born  near  Beverly,  Va.  After  their  marriage 
they  went  to  Missouri  where  he  became  interested  in  farming  and  stock 
raising  in  Shelby  County.  He  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life  there  and 
died  while  visiting  his  son  in  Bloomington  in  1913.  Charles  A.  Hamilton 
served  throughout  the  Civil  war  in  the  union  army.  His  widow  resides 
in  Chicago.  They  were  the  parents  of  five  children,  as  follows:  L.  F.,  lives 
in  Chicago ;  Minnie,  married  John  Spagenberg,  lives  at  White  Hall,  111. ; 
0.  C,  the  subject  of  this  sketch;  Maud  C,  married  Dan  Brown,  lives  in 
Chicago,  and  Clay  M.,  who  also  lives  in  Chicago. 

0.  C.  Hamilton  was  reared  in  Missouri  and  received  his  education  in 
the  public  schools  and  the  Gem  City  Business  College  at  Quincy,  111. 
When  he  was  21  years  old  he  went  to  Chicago  where  he  engaged  in  the 
restaurant  business  with  his  brother.  In  1902  Mr.  Hamilton  came  to 
Bloomington  and  after  being  interested  in  various  business  enterprises 
there,  he  purchased  the  hotel  and  apartment  building  in  1910,  which  is 
known  as  the  Hamilton  Hotel  and  the  Hamilton  Apartments.  It  is  located 
on  the  corner  of  Gridley  and  Front  street.  Mr.  Hamilton  is  also  interested 
in  other  projects  and  in  1901  organized  the  Hamilton  Hotel  Company, 
owners  of  the  Arlington  Hotel,  which  was  formerly  the  Hills  Hotel.  He 
has  been  president  of  the  company  since  its  organization,  and  he  is  also 
a  member  of  the  firm  of  McReynolds,  Getty  Clothing  Company,  which  was 
organized  July  2,  1923. 

On  Dec.  14,  1892,  Mr.  Hamilton  was  married  to  Miss  Pearl  L.  Hain- 
line,  a  native  of  Iowa,  and  the  daughter  of  John  F.  and  Rebecca  (Dale) 
Hainline.    Mrs.  Hamilton's  father  is  a  veteran  of  the  Civil  war  and  is  now 


510  History  of  McLean  County 

living  retired.     He  resides  with  Mr.  and  Mrs.   Hamilton.     Her  mother 
is  deceased. 

Mr.  Hamilton  is  a  32nd  Degree  Mason  and  a  member  of  the  Mahomet 
Shrine  at  Peoria.  He  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Christian  Church 
and  he  is  a  member  of  its  Board  of  Directors.  She  is  a  member  of  the 
Eastern  Star.  Mr.  Hamilton  belongs  to  the  Bloomington  Club  and  the 
McLean  Country  Club. 


Alonzo  McKinney,  who  now  lives  retired  at  Normal,  has  been  a 
prominent  farmer  of  McLean  County  for  many  years.  He  was  born 
near  Zanesville,  in  Guernsey  County,  Ohio,  June  23,  1849,  and  is  the 
son  of  John  and  Mary  J.  (Smith)  McKinney. 

The  McKinney  family  originally  came  from  Pennsylvania,  where 
Joseph,  grandfather  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  born.  He  was  one 
of  the  very  earliest  settlers  of  Ohio  and  settled  in  New  Concord,  Ohio. 
He  was  a  blacksmith  by  trade  and  also  owned  a  farm  in  Guernsey  County. 
John  McKinney,  his  son,  came  to  Illinois  in  the  spring  of  1864  and  settled 
on  a  farm  in  White  Oak  Township,  McLean  County.  He  made  the  trip  by 
rail  over  the  Toledo,  Peoria  and  Western  Railroad.  After  operating  his 
farm  in  McLean  County  for  nine  years  he  moved  to  DeWitt  County,  and 
lived  there  until  the  time  of  his  death  in  1888.  Mary  J.  (Smith)  McKin- 
ney was  also  a  native  of  Ohio  and  her  parents  came  from  Virginia.  She 
died  in  1915  at  the  age  of  86  years.  There  were  seven  children  in  the 
McKinney  family  four  of  whom  are  now  living,  as  follows:  Alonzo,  subject 
of  this  sketch ;  Ida,  unmarried,  lives  in  Los  Angeles,  Calif. ;  Joseph  H., 
retired,  lives  in  Clinton,  111.,  and  John  H.,  a  banker,  lives  at  Clinton,  111. 

Alonzo  McKinney  received  his  education  in  the  schools  of  Ohio  and 
attended  New  Lexington  High  School  in  Perry  County,  Ohio.  When  he 
was  a  young  man  he  began  farming,  which  has  been  his  occupation 
throughout  his  career.  He  farmed  one  year  in  White  Oak  Township, 
McLean  County,  three  years  in  DeWitt  County,  and  then  returned  to 
White  Oak  Township.  Mr.  McKinney  has  lived  retired  at  Normal  since 
January,  1917,  but  he  still  maintains  an  interest  in  farming.  His  land 
holdings  total  510  acres  of  well  improved  land. 

On  Nov.  26,  1874,  Mr.  McKinney  was  married  to  Miss  Sarah  Johns- 
ton, a  native  of  McLean  County,  and  the  daughter  of  Charles  Johnston. 


History  of  McLean  County  511 

Charles  Johnston  was  a  native  of  New  Jersey  and  came  to  McLean 
County  in  1857.  His  wife  was  a  native  of  Ohio.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Mc- 
Kinney  four  children  were  born,  as  follows:  Alice  Estella,  married  H.  D. 
K.  Thomas,  lives  in  DeWitt  County;  James  R.,  a  farmer,  lives  in  White 
Oak  Township,  McLean  County;  Maude,  married  George  E.  English, 
lives  in  White  Oak  Township,  McLean  County ;  and  Amanda  Dell,  married 
E.  L.  Grove,  lives  in  White  Oak  Township,  McLean  County. 

Mr.  McKinney  has  been  a  Republican  during  his  entire  life  and  has  held 
the  offices  of  highway  commissioner,  school  trustee  for  30  years  and 
supervisor  for  three  years.  He  is  a  stockholder  in  the  Hudson  State 
Bank  and  a  director  and  stockholder  in  t*he  Hudson  Elevator,  and  is  a 
stockholder  in  the  elevator  of  Carlock,  111.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Inde- 
pendent Order  of  Odd  Fellows.  Mr.  McKinney  is  a  representative  and 
dependable  citizen  of  McLean  County  and  has  many  friends. 


W.  P.  Garretson,  jeweler,  is  a  successful  and  well  known  business 
man  of  Bloomington.  He  was  born  on  a  farm  in  Dawson  Township,  Mc- 
Lean County,  Jan.  16,  1858,  and  is  a  son  of  Talbott  and  Mary  Ann  (Dysart) 
Garretson. 

The  Garretson  family  came  from  Ohio  originally  but  lived  in  Indiana 
for  a  number  of  years.  In  1850  they  removed  to  Illinois  and  settled  on 
a  farm  in  Dawson  Township,  McLean  County.  Talbott  Garretson  was 
born  in  1810  and  died  in  1881,  and  his  wife  was  born  in  1816  and  died  in 
1878.  They  were  the  parents  of  10  children,  seven  of  whom  are  now 
living. 

W.  P.  Garretson  is  the  youngest  of  his  family.  He  spent  his  boy- 
hood on  the  home  place  and  received  his  education  in  the  district  schools. 
When  he  was  21  years  of  age  he  came  to  Bloomington  and  entered  the 
employ  of  A.  E.  Elbe,  a  jeweler.  Mr.  Garretson  remained  with  this  com- 
pany 31  years  and  in  January,  1911,  entered  business  for  himself  at  309 
North  Main  Street.  He  has  built  up  a  splendid  business  and  carries  a 
complete  stock  of  jewelry,  clocks  and  silverware. 

Mr.  Garretson  was  married  on  Oct.  9,  1888,  to  Miss  Fannie  Senseney, 
a  native  of  Bloomington  and  the  daughter  of  H.  M.  and  Love  L.  (Ballard) 
Senseney,  both  deceased.     To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Garretson  one  child  has  been 


512  History  of  McLean  County 

born,  Katharine,  the  wife  of  Wayne  V.  Myers,  and  they  reside  in  London, 
England.     Mr.  Myers  is  a  manufacturer  and  exporter  of  merchandise. 

Mr.  Garretson  is  a  Republican  and  belongs  to  the  Association  of  Com- 
merce, the  Kiwanis  Club,  the  Maplewood  Country  Club  and  the  Bloom- 
ington  Club.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Second  Presbyterian  Church  and 
belongs  to  the  Masonic  lodge  and  Consistory.  His  residence  is  in  Normal. 
Mr.  Garretson  has  an  extensive  acquaintance  in  McLean  County  and  is 
highly  respected. 


James  Edwin  Robinson,  deceased,  was  for  many  years  a  leading 
farmer  and  stockman  of  Woodford  County.  He  was  born  in  Montgomery 
Township,  Woodford  County,  111.,  Sept.  11,  1844,  and  died  in  Blooming- 
ton,  Dec.  8,  1920.  Mr.  Robinson  was  the  son  of  Henry  Mortimer  and 
Nancy  (Allison)  Robinson. 

Henry  Mortimer  Robinson  was  a  native  of  Coshocton  County,  Ohio, 
and  a  descendant  of  Major  William  Robinson,  a  Revolutionary  War  vet- 
eran of  Clarksburg,  W.  Va.  His  wife  was  born  in  Ohio  in  1818  and  was 
the  daughter  of  Daniel  Allison,  who  settled  in  Woodford  County,  111.,  in 
1832.  Henry  Mortimer  Robinson  became  the  cattle  king  of  Illinois  and 
at  the  time  of  his  death  owned  over  2,000  acres  of  land.  He  was  a  per- 
sonal friend  of  Abraham  Lincoln  and  went  to  Washington  to  attend  the 
president's  inauguration.  He  was  a  Republican  and  a  member  of  the 
Methodist  Church.  Mr.  Robinson  died  Jan.  26,  1886.  He  was  married 
twice.  His  first  wife  was  Nancy  Allison  and  to  this  union  four  children 
were  born:  Phoebe,  who  died  at  the  age  of  eight  years;  James  Edwin, 
the  subject  of  this  sketch;  Rebecca  Harriet  born  Dec.  1,  1845,  married 
Daniel  Chaffer,  and  she  died  in  Washington,  111.,  Oct.  22,  1919;  and  Mary, 
who  died  at  the  age  of  six  years.  Mrs.  Robinson  died  in  September,  1848, 
and  on  Aug.  8,  1849,  Mr.  Robinson  was  married  to  Miss  Mary  Little,  a 
native  of  Ohio,  born  Jan.  14,  1815.  To  this  union  three  children  were 
born,  as  follows:  Martha  Sophia,  married  Frank  Piper,  deceased,  and 
she  lives  at  Eureka,  111. ;  Henry  M.,  deceased ;  and  William  W.,  deceased. 
The  second  Mrs.  Robinson  died  March  1,  1890. 

James  Edwin  Robinson  received  his  education  in  the  schools  of 
Eureka,  III,  and  after  graduating  from  Eureka  College  taught  school  for 
three  years  that  he  might  have  enough  money  to  start  farming.  He  then 
engaged  in  general  farming  and  stock  raising,  in  which  he  met  with 


JAMES    EDWIN    ROBINSON. 


History  of  McLean  County  513 

marked  success.  At  one  time  Mr.  Robinson  owned  3,000  acres  of  land, 
all  of  which  was  well  improved.  In  1887  he  retired  and  moved  to  Eureka, 
where  he  lived  until  1891,  at  which  time  he  came  to  Bloomington,  where  he 
built  a  fine  home  at  1411  North  Main  Street.  Mr.  Robinson  traveled  ex- 
tensively throughout  the  United  States,  Canada,  Alaska  and  South  Amer- 
ica.   He  was  a  student  of  the  Bible  and  a  great  reader  and  thinker. 

Mr.  Robinson  was  married  the  first  time  to  Elizabeth  Bell  Vance  on 
Dec.  31,  1869.  She  was  the  daughter  of  Peter  and  Louise  (Mitchell) 
Vance,  natives  of  McLean  County,  111.  Mrs.  Robinson  died  Oct.  15,  1896. 
To  this  union  six  children  were  born  as  follows:  Stella  May,  deceased, 
was  the  wife  of  George  Haynes,  also  dead ;  Bertrum  Henry,  Normal,  111. ; 
Minnie  Louise,  wife  of  Rev.  Edwin  Simpson,  Green  Bay,  Wis. ;  Lawrence 
Eugene,  Peoria,  111.;  Charles  Judson,  a  professor  in  Des  Moines  College, 
Des  Moines,  Iowa;  and  Inez  A.,  wife  of  Elmo  Mead,  Snohomish,  Wash. 

On  Oct.  5,  1897,  Mr.  Robinson  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Georgiana  Ford,  a  native  of  Freeport,  III,  born  Jan.  19,  1877,  and  the 
daughter  of  Hiram  and  Rosalie  (Hunt)  Ford,  the  former  a  native  of  New 
York  and  the  latter  of  Baden,  Germany.    Mr.  Ford  was  born  Nov.  25,  1850, 
and  came  to  Illinois  in  1856.     He  was  one  of  the  pioneer  railroad  men  of 
the  west,  being  an  engineer  on  the  Chicago  &  Northwestern  Railroad  for 
many  years.    He  was  a  Republican  and  a  member  of  the  Baptist  Church. 
Mr.  Ford  died  Nov.  18,  1888,  and  is  buried  at  Sterling,  111.     His  widow, 
who  lives  with  Mrs.  Robinson,  was  born  Sept.  9,  1853,  in  Grand  Duchy  of 
Baden,   Germany.     There  were  two  children  in  the  Ford  family,   Mrs. 
Robinson,  who  now  resides  at  1411  North  Main  Street.     She  is  a  member 
of  the  D.  A.  R.,  Letitia  Green  Stevenson  Chapter.     Mrs.  Robinson  now 
holds  the  office  of  registrar.     She  is  state  regent  of  the  Daughters  of 
American  Colonists.     She  comes  from  the  Mayflower  fame  and  Hugue- 
nots; and  Bessie,  born  March  31,  1879,  and  died  in  Los  Angeles,  Calif., 
Jan.  6,  1921.     She  was  married  on  Aug.  5,  1911,  to  John  Richard  Miller, 
who  lives  in  California.    To  James  Edwin  and  Georgiana  (Ford)  Robinson 
four  children  were  born,  as  follows:  Lorena  Hortense,  born  Feb.  4,  1902, 
married  on  March  6,  1922,  to  Harold  Laverry,  vice  president  of  the  Corn 
Belt  Oil  Company  of  Bloomington ;  James  Edwin,  born  Oct.  19,  1904,  with 
his  mother;  Esther  Naomi,  born  March  1,   1908,  at  home;   and  Hiram 
Ford,  born  Nov.  2,  1911,  also  at  home. 

Mr.  Robinson  was  a  Republican  and  a  member  of  the  Baptist  Church, 
of  which  he  was  trustee  and  deacon  for  a  number  of  years.    He  was  one  of 
(31) 


514  History  of  McLean  County 

the  founders  of  Brokaw  Hospital  and  was  a  prominent  member  of  his 
community.  The  Robinson  family  has  always  been  well  and  favorably 
known  in  Illinois  and  is  representative  of  the  best  citizenship  of  the  state. 


Wayne  C.  Townley. — One  of  the  best  known  and  most  esteemed  of 
the  younger  attorneys  of  the  city  of  Bloomington  is  Wayne  C.  Townley, 
who  has  offices  in  the  Peoples  Bank  Building.  He  is  not  alone  one  of  the 
more  aggressive  members  of  the  McLean  county  bar,  but  is  also  known 
and  recognized  as  a  leader  in  civic  affairs,  is  the  district  president  of 
the  Lion  Clubs,  the  district  including  the  entire  state  of  Illinois. 

Mr.  Townley  was  born  at  Mt.  Morris,  111.,  and  later  went  to  Macomb, 
111.  Having  completed  his  education  in  the  public  schools  of  Macomb  he 
went  to  the  Western  Illinois  Normal  School,  where  he  received  his  diploma. 
Then  he  came  to  Bloomington  and  entered  the  college  of  arts  and  the  law 
school  at  Illinois  Wesleyan  University.  While  at  Wesleyan  he  was  one 
of  the  most  active  students.  He  took  part  in  and  became  a  leader  of 
many  of  the  student  organizations,  was  on  the  debating  team,  which  took 
many  honors  during  his  incumbency,  and  was  recognized  for  his  scholar- 
ship and  social  leadership.  Having  graduated  from  Illinois  Wesleyan  Uni- 
versity in  the  class  of  1919,  he  began  the  practice  of  law  in  Bloomington, 
believing  that  this  city  offered  a  good  field,  in  spite  of  the  many  lawyers 
already  located  here.  His  choice  proved  his  wisdom,  for  he  found  a  good 
business  in  his  line,  almost  from  the  beginning. 

When  the  World  war  came,  Mr.  Townley,  like  hundreds  of  other 
young  men,  put  his  patriotic  duty  above  his  private  interest,  and  closed 
his  office  and  enlisted  in  the  service  of  his  country.  He  was  assigned  to 
the  gas  warfare  division  of  the  service.  He  was  finally  mustered  out 
without  having  been  sent  abroad.  He  had  reached  the  rank  of  sergeant 
when  he  was  discharged. 

For  three  years  after  his  return  home,  Mr.  Townley  offered  his 
professional  services  to  his  former  comrades  and  handled  many  war  claims 
for  disabled  veterans  of  the  war. 

Mr.  Townley  is  a  ready  speaker  on  many  important  subjects.  He 
has  written  a  text  book  on  business  law  for  schools  and  for  business  men. 
He  has  written  many  articles  on  matters  of  public  interest  for  the  news- 


History  of  McLean  County  515 

papers  and  magazines.  Since  the  organization  of  the  Lions  Club  in  Bloom- 
ington  a  few  years  ago,  Mr.  Townley  has  been  one  of  its  most  enterpris- 
ing and  aggressive  members.  So  prominent  was  his  leadership  that  in  the 
spring  of  1923  when  the  state  convention  of  Lions  Clubs  was  held  in 
Bloomington,  he  was  elected  without  opposition  as  state  president.  On 
one  of  his  trips  he  became  interested  in  the  neglected  condition  of  the 
grave  of  Thomas  Lincoln,  father  of  Abraham  Lincoln,  and  Sarah  (Bush) 
Lincoln,  the  step-mother,  in  Coles  County,  111.  He  at  once  started  a  move- 
ment among  the  Lions  Clubs  of  the  state  and  nation  to  erect  over  this 
grave  a  suitable  memorial  to  mark  the  last  resting  place  of  the  father  and 
step-mother  of  America's  great  martyred  president.  This  monument  was 
dedicated  on  May  16,  1924. 


Mrs.  Caroline  F.  Kimball  is  one  of  the  women  of  Bloomington  who 
have  lived  a  long  and  useful  life  and  made  every  year  count  for  the  good 
of  her  own  family  and  the  community  in  general.  She  taught  school  for 
several  years,  served  over  20  years  as  reference  librarian,  and  is  active 
in  church  and  social  and  educational  affairs  of  many  kinds. 

Caroline  Frances  Jackman  was  born  at  West  Newton,  Mass.,  a  suburb 
of  Boston,  on  Nov.  24,  1844.  Her  parents  were  John  Adams  Jackman  and 
Sarah  Farnum  Sargent  Jackman.  They  were  both  natives  of  Boscawen, 
N.  H.,  and  descendants  of  early  settlers  at  Ipswich,  Mass.    (1630-1640.) 

With  the  exception  of  a  few  years  of  residence  in  Norwalk,  Ohio,  her 
early  life  was  spent  in  Boston  and  here  she  received  her  education,  grad- 
uating in  1864  from  the  Girls  High  and  Normal  School.  For  60  years 
Mrs.  Kimball  has  kept  in  touch  with  some  of  her  classmates  of  this 
school. 

In  September,  1864,  she  was  married  to  Benjamin  Rush  Kimball, 
then  in  business  in  Chicago,  but  like  herself  of  New  England  birth.  His 
people  also  came  from  Boscawen,  N.  H.,  and  there  had  been  many  years 
of  close  friendship  between  the  two  families. 

She  came  to  Chicago  at  an  exciting  and  interesting  time,  the  closing 
years  of  the  Civil  war  attended  the  great  Sanitary  Commission  Fair,  saw 
the  body  of  the  martyred  Lincoln  as  it  lay  in  state  in  the  old  Chicago 
court  house.  The  new  home  was  on  the  north  side  and  she  watched 
workmen  who  were  engaged  in  laying  out  what  became  Lincoln  park. 


516  History  of  McLean  County 

The  great  fire  of  1871  came,  sweeping  away  home,  business,  in  fact  all 
worldly  possessions.  With  her  little  children,  one  a  babe  of  two  months 
she  came  for  shelter  to  the  home  of  her  father,  John  A.  Jackman,  who 
had  moved  to  Bloomington  in  1864,  becoming  superintendent  of  motive 
power  for  the  Chicago  and  Alton  Railroad.  In  the  spring  a  home  was 
again  established  in  Chicago,  but  in  1873  the  little  family  definitely 
moved  to  Bloomington.  Practically  ever  since  that  time  Mrs.  Kimball 
has  lived  in  the  Jackman  homestead  at  507  West  Locust  Street.  In  this 
home  she  was  the  companion  of  the  beloved  father  and  mother  until  they, 
in  the  fullness  of  years  "fell  on  sleep."  Her  husband  died  in  1895.  Three 
of  her  daughters  were  married  from  this  home.  They  are  now  Mrs.  J.  L. 
Hasbrouck,  Mrs.  Frank  I.  Miller,  well  known  in  Bloomington  and  Normal 
where  both  now  reside,  and  Mrs.  W.  C.  Windle,  of  Newark,  Ohio.  Re- 
maining with  her  in  the  old  home,  which  for  50  years  has  been  the 
center  of  warm  hearted  hospitality,  are  her  brother,  Dr.  Frederick  0. 
Jackman;  her  sister,  Mrs.  Georgia  Jackman  Soper,  and  her  daughter, 
Miss  Mary  L.  Kimball. 

Mrs.  Kimball's  education  was  most  thorough,  her  early  environment 
was  one  of  culture  and  aspiration  toward  higher  things  of  life.  Her 
memory  has  ever  been  most  retentive,  and  she  had  received  training 
both  in  music  and  art.  When  about  1879  she  began  her  services  as 
instructor  in  the  Bloomington  public  schools,  there  could  have  been  few 
teachers  better  qualified  than  she  to  work  in  any  department,  but  it  was 
natural  that  the  young  mother  should  be  assigned  to  a  position  among 
the  little  children.  For  11  years  she  taught  in  primary  grades.  During 
these  same  years  she  also  gave  devoted  and  faithful  service  as  teacher 
in  the  primary  department  of  the  First  Presbyterian  Sunday  School.  And 
these  things  were  all  a  part  of  her  great  task  in  life,  the  nurture  and 
education  of  her  own  four  daughters. 

In  1891,  she  entered  upon  her  long  years,  almost  30,  of  service  in  the 
Bloomington  public  library,  where  Mrs.  Hannah  R.  Galliner,  of  revered 
memory,  was  still  librarian.  Mrs.  Galliner  closed  her  27  years  of  service 
in  1894.  At  that  time  Mrs.  Kimball  was  appointed  first  assistant.  As 
the  work  of  the  Withers  library,  now  taken  over  by  the  city,  became 
greater,  she  was  named  as  reference  librarian.  In  this  position,  which 
was  hers  for  20  years  she  came  in  contact  with  students  in  the  high  school, 
Wesleyan  and  Normal,  with  the  ministers,  professional  people,  club  mem- 
bers of  the  community.    The  young  men  working  on  a  debate,  the  woman 


History  of  McLean  County  517 

with  a  club  paper  to  prepare,  always  found  her  helpful  and  sympathetic. 
If  there  was  anything  in  the  library  that  bore  on  the  topic,  Mrs.  Kimball 
could  find  it.  Many  times  she  brought  her  own  books,  old  magazines,  etc., 
to  supply  a  needed  item.  In  this  work  her  long  years  of  reading,  her 
keen  interest  in  public  events  during  her  whole  lifetime,  were  a  wondrful 
assistance. 

Mrs.  Kimball  was  one  of  the  earliest  members  of  Letitia  Green  Stev- 
enson chapter,  Daughters  of  the  American  Revolution,  joining  the  chapter 
in  the  year  of  its  organization,  1894.  She  has  held  office  as  historian,  as 
treasurer,  as  vice  regent,  and  during  the  years  1908-10  was  regent  of 
the  chapter.  Three  times  she  represented  the  chapter  at  the  Continental 
Congress,  or  meeting  of  the  national  society,  in  Washington,  D.  C. ;  also 
several  times  at  state  meetings.  In  1922  the  chapter  made  her  honorary 
past  regent  for  life.  She  is  still  a  most  useful  and  valued  member,  her 
advice  is  sought  by  officers,  and  hearty  co-operation  given  in  all  chapter 
undertakings. 

A  charter  member  of  the  Bloomington  Woman's  Club,  there  has 
hardly  been  a  year  when  Mrs.  Kimball  has  not  given  useful  service  as 
officer,  department  head,  or  committee  member.  Not  all  attention  has  been 
given  to  these  club  activities,  but  as  a  devoted  member  through  the  years 
of  the  First  Presbyterian  church,  she  has  had  a  large  part  in  the  women's 
work,  especially  as  teacher  in  the  Sabbath  school  and  as  a  leading  member 
of  the  Woman's  Missionary  society.  In  connection  with  her  work  in  these 
different  organizations,  she  has  prepared  many  fine  papers  which  show 
decided  literary  talent.  A  number  of  articles  from  her  pen  have  been 
published  in  the  proceedings  of  the  McLean  County  Historical  Society. 
She  was  one  of  the  organizers  of  the  Bloomington  Art  Association,  which 
flourished  in  the  early  '90's  and  numbered  in  its  membership  many  gifted 
persons ;  also  of  the  Sketch  club,  organized  about  the  same  time,  whose 
members  met  with  pencil  or  brush  in  hand.  At  this  time  she  did  much 
painting  in  oils  and  upon  china.  Another  artistic  accomplishment  has 
been  her  needle  work,  for  she  is  an  adept  in  plain  sewing  and  embroidery. 
Today  her  leisure  is  spent  with  books,  the  current  periodicals,  for  she 
keeps  up  with  all  the  questions  of  the  day — and  meantime  her  busy  fingers 
ply  their  skill  in  making  beautiful  articles  which  are  highly  prized  by 
her  family. 

The  seven  grandsons  and  three  granddaughters  were  an  unfailing 
source  of  interest  and  joy  through  their  years  of  childhood,  and  no  less 


518  History  of  McLean  County 

so  now  as  they  pursue  their  education  and  enter  upon  life  careers.     In 
their  interest  and  affairs  she  renews  her  youth. 


A.  G.  Carnahan,  who  successfully  operates  a  garage  and  machine 
shop  at  208-210  East  Monroe  street,  in  Bloomington,  was  born  in  Lee 
County,  III.,  May  5,  1868,  the  son  of  John  and  Melvina  (Cole)  Carnahan. 

John  Carnahan  was  a  native  of  Lee  County,  111.,  as  also  was  his  wife. 
He  served  throughout  the  Civil  war  and  was  a  prominent  farmer  and 
stockman.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Carnahan,  deceased,  were  the  parents  of  five 
children,  three  of  whom  are  now  living. 

When  A.  G.  Carnahan,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  10  years  of 
age  he  was  placed  in  the  Soldiers'  Orphans'  Home  at  Normal,  111.,  where 
he  remained  until  he  was  16  years  old.  While  there  he  had  charge  of 
the  water  works,  and  after  leaving  the  institution  he  was  made  chief 
engineer  of  the  Miller  Brothers  Dry  Dock  plant  at  Chicago,  and  he  was 
the  youngest  steam  engineer  at  that  time  in  Chicago.  After  remaining 
with  that  company  for  three  years,  Mr.  Carnahan  was  engaged  as  engineer 
on  the  tug  "Williams"  on  Lake  Michigan,  and  later  on  the  tug  "Bertha," 
and  the  barge  "Solan  Johnson,"  holding  each  position  for  two  years.  He 
was  also  engineer  on  the  steamer  "C.  C.  Meyers."  Mr.  Carnahan  returned 
then  to  Normal  and  installed  a  heating  and  electric  light  plant  in  the 
orphan's  home  there,  which  was  about  four  years'  work.  He  then  entered 
the  employ  of  the  White  and  Evans  Portable  Elevator  Company  at  Bloom- 
ington, where  he  made  patterns  and  dies  for  portable  elevators.  His  next 
work  was  the  installation  of  the  electric  light  and  heating  plant  in  the 
Illinois  Hotel  at  Bloomington,  and  in  March,  1905,  he  opened  his  machine 
shop  in  Bloomington.  He  has  enlarged  his  business  until  he  now  occupies 
a  fine  garage  on  East  Monroe  Street,  where  he  carries  on  all  kinds  of 
automobile  welding,  grinding  and  machine  work.  He  does  welding  and 
cylinder  reboring  and  has  a  completely  equipped  machine  shop.  Mr.  Car- 
nahan employs  12  men  in  his  shop. 

On  March  1,  1890,  Mr.  Carnahan  was  married  to  Miss  Hattie  Pallister, 
a  native  of  Fulton  County,  111.  To  this  union  six  children  were  born,  as 
follows:  Robert,  a  welder,  employed  in  his  father's  shop;  Ray,  also  em- 
ployed in  his  father's  shop  as  foreman;  Helen,  married  David  Conroy, 


History  of  McLean  County  519 

lives  at  Bloomington;  Buster,  employed  in  his  father's  shop;  Melvina,  at 
home,  and  Marion,  also  at  home. 

Mr.  Carnahan  is  a  Republican,  a  member  of  the  Christian  Church,  and 
belongs  to  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  No.  77,  of  Bloomington. 
He  has  been  unusually  successful  in  his  work  and  received  practically  his 
entire  education  along  engineering  lines  by  taking  correspondence  work 
from  the  Scranton,  Pennsylvania,  Correspondence  School.  Mr.  Carnahan 
is  an  enterprising  and  progressive  citizen  and  is  widely  and  favorably 
known  in  McLean  County. 


Paul  F.  Giermann,  chief  of  the  police  department  of  Bloomington,  is 
a  substantial  and  highly  respected  citizen  of  McLean  County.  He  was 
born  in  Stettin,  Germany,  Oct.  7,  1881,  and  is  the  son  of  Ernest  and  Marie 
(Schmidt)  Giermann. 

The  Giermann  family  came  to  the  United  States  from  Germany  in 
1882  and  settled  at  Bloomington,  111.,  where  Ernest  Giermann  engaged  in 
business.  For  14  years  he  conducted  an  ice  business  and  is  now  night 
watchman  for  the  Illinois  Tractor  Company.  His  first  wife  died  in  1889 
at  the  age  of  30  years,  leaving  the  following  children:  Paul  F.,  the  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch;  Ernest,  Jr.,  lives  in  Iowa;  and  Herman,  employed  by 
the  Bloomington  Street  Railway  Company.  Mr.  Giermann  was  married 
the  second  time  to  Miss  Adeline  Woizeski,  and  to  his  union  three  children 
were  born  as  follows :  Carl,  at  home ;  Alfred,  employed  by  the  Blooming- 
ton Fire  Department;  and  August,  deceased. 

Paul  F.  Giermann  was  reared  in  Bloomington  and  received  his  educa- 
tion in  the  German  Lutheran  schools.  When  he  was  11  years  of  age  he 
would  get  up  at  two  o'clock  in  the  morning  and  work  before  school  and 
also  at  nights.  He  was  at  the  head  of  his  class  at  graduation  in  1896. 
He  then  worked  as  a  farm  hand  for  $12.00  per  month  and  in  1898  entered 
the  employ  of  Herman  Steege,  a  dairyman.  Two  years  later  he  worked 
for  Joseph  Stokes  and  then  was  employed  as  yard  foreman  by  the  Shi- 
cago  &  Alton  Railroad  for  several  years.  After  working  for  the  J.  W. 
Evans  &  Sons  Coal  Company  for  several  years,  Mr.  Giermann  entered 
the  ice  business  with  his  father,  which  he  continued  until  1913.  He  then 
became  a  patrolman  on  the  Bloomington  police  force  and  one  year  later 
was  on  the  night  force.    In  1915  he  was  made  night  captain,  which  rank 


520  History  of  McLean  County 

he  held  until  July  23,  1922,  when  he  was  appointed  chief  of  the  police 
department  after  the  resignation  of  J.  J.  Jones.  Mr.  Giermann  was  re- 
elected to  the  office  in  1923. 

On  April  13,  1904,  Mr.  Giermann  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Eleanora  Obenauer,  a  native  of  Dayton,  Ohio.  To  this  union  four  chil- 
dren have  been  born,  as  follows:  Emma,  Marie,  Frederick,  and  Clara, 
all  at  home. 

In  politics  Mr.  Giermann  is  a  Republican  and  he  is  a  member  of  the 
Lutheran  Church.  He  belongs  to  the  Masonic  Lodge,  Arts  and  Crafts, 
the  Loyal  Order  of  Moose,  and  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America.  Mr. 
Giermann  is  an  efficient  officer,  one  of  the  dependable  citizens  of  Bloom- 
ington,  and  favorably  known. 


Horatio  G.  Bent,  a  well  known  attorney  of  Bloomington,  who  is  also 
the  efficient  business  manager  and  treasurer  of  the  Bloomington  School 
Board,  was  born  in  New  Orleans,  La.,  Nov.  22,  1857,  that  date  being  the 
50th  birthday  of  his  father.  He  is  a  son  of  Horatio  Gates  Bent  and  Lu- 
cinda  (Grimes)  Bent,  the  former  a  native  of  Wendell,  Mass.,  and  the 
latter  of  Bethany,  N.  Y. 

Horatio  Gates  Bent  was  born  at  Wendell,  Mass.,  Nov.  22,  1807.  He 
was  a  descendant  of  John  Bent,  the  founder  of  the  Bent  family  in  America, 
who  came  to  this  country  in  1638,  making  the  voyage  on  the  ship  "Con- 
fidence." He  settled  at  Sudbury,  near  Boston,  Mass.  Lucinda  (Grimes) 
Bent  was  born  at  Bethany,  N.  Y.,  Aug.  12,  1823.  She  was  a  highly  edu- 
cated woman  and  for  many  years  was  a  teacher.  Horatio  Gates  Bent  was 
a  commission  merchant  and  was  successively  engaged  in  that  business  at 
Charleston,  S.  C,  Atlanta,  Ga.,  Mobile,  Ala.,  and  New  Orleans,  La.,  and 
moved  to  Bloomington  with  his  family  in  1858,  when  Horatio  G.  Bent, 
whose  name  introduces  this  sketch,  was  about  one  year  old.  Horatio  Gates 
Bent  died  at  Bloomington,  July  31,  1863,  and  his  wife  died  here  March  12, 
1898,  and  their  remains  are  buried  at  Batavia,  111.  They  were  the  parents 
of  two  children,  Mrs.  Nellie  Bent  Neville,  1002  Broadway,  Normal,  111., 
and  Horatio  G.  Bent. 

Horatio  G.  Bent  spent  his  boyhood  days  in  Bloomington  and  attended 
the  public  schools.  Later  he  entered  the  Illinois  Wesleyan  University  and 
was  graduated  from  that  institution  in  the  class  of  1879.    He  then  entered 


HORATIO   G.    BENT. 


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522  History  of  McLean  County 

the  law  department  from  which  he  was  graduated  in  1882.  After  being 
admitted  to  the  bar  he  engaged  in  the  practice  of  his  profession  at  Bloom- 
ington.  He  became  a  member  of  the  law  firm  of  Pitts,  Bent  &  Lindley, 
which  was  dissolved  after  a  few  years.  For  several  years  Mr.  Bent  was  a 
teacher  in  the  law  department  of  Wesleyan  University.  Mr.  Bent  is  a 
Democrat  and  was  the  candidate  of  that  party  for  county  judge,  but  was 
defeated  by  Colston  D.  Myers.  He  was  the  independent  candidate  for 
mayor  of  Bloomington  at  one  time,  but  was  also  defeated.  He  served  as 
a  member  of  the  board  of  education  of  Bloomington  from  1893  to  1896 
and  was  elected  again  in  1898  and  has  served  continuously  until  the  pres- 
ent time.  He  was  secretary  of  the  board  of  education  from  1893  to  1895 
and  president  from  September,  1899,  to  April,  1917.  At'  that  date  he 
became  business  manager  and  treasurer  of  the  board  of  education  and 
has  acted  in  that  capacity  to  the  present  time,  making  a  term  of  official 
public  service  longer  by  many  years  than  that  of  any  other  person  who 
has  been  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Education,  and  longer  than  any  pub- 
lic official  who  has  ever  been  elected  in  McLean  County.  Perhaps  no  other 
man  has  had  more  to  do  with  the  successful  development  and  modern 
equipment  of  the  excellent  school  system  of  Bloomington  than  Mr.  Bent. 
In  recognition  of  his  services  to  the  schools  of  Bloomington  the  Horatio 
G.  Bent  school  was  named  after  him  by  the  board  of  education. 

On  Aug.  25,  1880,  Mr.  Bent  was  married  to  Miss  Adah  Crist,  a  native 
of  Bloomington  and  the  daughter  of  Isaac  W.  and  Sarah  Ann  (Lewis) 
Crist.  Mr.  Crist  died  April  1,  1880,  and  his  wife  died  Oct.  17,  1914.  To 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bent  have  been  born  the  following  children:  Horatio  Crist 
Bent,  born  June  23,  1881,  an  attorney,  Bloomington,  111. ;  Lewis  Grimes 
Bent,  born  Sept.  10,  1885,  died  May  19,  1911;  and  Julian  Ross  Bent,  born 
Jan.  18,  1889,  and  died  April  2,  1889.  Mr.  Bent  and  his  wife  are  members 
of  the  Baptist  Church  and  he  is  a  member  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias  lodge. 


Frank  M.  Rice,  cashier  of  the  First  National  Bank  of  Bloomington, 
is  a  prominent  citizen  of  McLean  County.  He  was  born  at  Rankin,  in 
Vermilion  County,  111.,  July  11,  1878,  and  is  the  son  of  John  M.  and  Delia 
(Clapp)  Rice. 

John  M.  Rice  was  a  veteran  of  the  Civil  War  and  a  leading  farmer  of 
Vermilion  County,  111.,  for  many  years.    He  was  born  in  Madison  County, 


History  of  McLean  County  523 

Ky.,  and  his  wife  was  born  in  Vermilion  County,  111.  Mr.  Rice  served  with 
the  116th  Indiana  Volunteer  Infantry  during  the  Civil  war  and  was  a 
member  of  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic.  He  was  a  Republican  and 
belonged  to  the  Methodist  Church.  He  died  on  June  11,  1922,  at  the  age 
of  77  years  and  his  widow  lives  at  Normal.  They  were  the  parents  of 
five  children,  of  whom  all  are  now  living,  as  follows :  Clinton,  lives  Vermil- 
ion County,  111. ;  Charles  A.,  Portland,  Ore. ;  Jesse  A.,  Portland,  Ore. ; 
Bertha,  married  Walter  S.  Johnson,  lives  in  Bloomington,  and  Frank  M., 
the  subject  of  this  sketch. 

Frank  M.  Rice  spent  his  boyhood  on  his  father's  farm  and  received 
his  education  in  the  public  and  high  schools  of  Normal.  He  was  a  student 
at  Illinois  Wesleyan  University  for  two  years,  and  then  entered  the  em- 
ploy of  Oberkoetter  &  Sons,  wholesale  grocers  of  Bloomington.  On  Jan.  1, 
1902,  he  became  bookkeeper  of  the  Third  National  Bank  of  Bloomington 
and  was  later  appointed  assistant  cashier  when  the  Third  National  Bank 
was  consolidated  with  the  First  National  Bank  in  1911.  In  1914  he  be- 
came cashier  of  the  McLean  County  Bank,  which  office  he  held  until 
January,  1919,  at  which  time  he  was  associated  with  the  First  National 
Bank  as  vice  president.  On  July  1,  1921,  Mr.  Rice  became  cashier  of  the 
First  National  Bank  when  the  State  Bank  consolidated  with  it.  He  is 
also  secretary  of  the  board  of  directors  of  the  bank,  a  director  of  the 
First  Trust  and  Savings  Bank,  and  director  and  vice  president  of  the 
Pantagraph  Printing  &  Stationery  Company  of  Bloomington. 

On  Aug.  2,  1904,  Mr.  Rice  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Lura 
File,  a  native  of  Decatur,  111.,  and  the  daughter  of  Daniel  and  Laura  (Gam- 
ble) File,  natives  of  Montgomery  County,  111.  Mr.  File  is  deceased  and 
his  widow  resides  at  Decatur,  111.  Mrs.  Rice  is  a  graduate  of  Decatur  High 
School  and  attended  Illinois  State  Normal  University,  after  which  she 
taught  school  for  four  years.  She  is  a  member  of  the  P.  E.  0.  To 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Rice  have  been  born  four  children,  as  follows:  Robert  M., 
Mary  Ann,  Martha  Ellen,  and  William  Hudson. 

In  politics  Mr.  Rice  is  identified  with  the  Republican  party  and  he  has 
served  as  city  treasurer  of  Bloomington  for  two  terms.  He  has  been  a 
member  of  the  board  of  trustees  and  treasurer  of  Illinois  Wesleyan  Uni- 
versity for  the  past  12  years  and  is  a  member  of  the  board  of  directors  of 
the  Y.  M.  C.  A.  During  the  World  war  Mr.  Rice  was  treasurer  of  the 
United  War  Workers  and  was  treasurer  of  the  National  Play  Ground  As- 
sociation.    He  is  also  a  member  of  the  Association  of  Commerce  and 


524  History  of  McLean  County 

served  as  treasurer  for  two  years.  Mr.  Rice  is  a  member  of  the  Grace 
Methodist  Church,  and  belongs  to  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  the  Modern 
Woodmen  of  America,  and  the  Masonic  lodge.  He  was  one  of  the  organ- 
izers of  the  Arts  and  Crafts  Lodge,  A.  F.  and  A.  M.,  and  has  served  as 
treasurer  since  its  organization,  and  he  is  also  a  member  of  the  Blooming- 
ton  Consistory. 

As  cashier  of  the  First  National  Bank  of  Bloomington,  Mr.  Rice  has 
served  efficiently  and  capably.  He  has  an  extensive  acquaintance  in 
McLean  County  and  stands  high  in  his  community. 


Tracy  Green,  who  has  the  agency  for  Chevrolet  automobiles  in  Mc- 
Lean County,  is  an  enterprising  and  successful  young  business  man  of 
Bloomington.  He  was  born  at  Fairbury,  111.,  June  3,  1894,  and  is  the 
son  of  John  and  Nina  (Flegel)  Green. 

John  Green  was  a  veteran  of  the  Civil  War  and  a  prominent  farmer 
of  McLean  County.  He  was  born  at  New  Hartford,  Conn.,  and  came  to 
Illinois  in  1900,  purchasing  a  farm  near  LeRoy.  His  wife  was  born  at 
Tremont,  111.  They  were  the  parents  of  five  children.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Green  are  now  deceased. 

Tracy  Green  lived  on  his  father's  farm  until  he  was  17  years  of  age 
and  received  his  education  in  the  district  school.  He  went  to  Peoria,  111., 
in  1912,  where  he  was  employed  as  an  apprentice  in  the  shop  of  the 
Cadillac  Motor  Car  Company,  and  the  following  year  he  returned  to 
Bloomington  and  was  employed  as  a  mechanic  on  Cadillac  cars.  In  1914 
he  took  charge  of  the  Ford  stock  department  and  the  following  year  he 
became  a  member  of  the  sales  force.  In  June,  1918,  he  enlisted  for  serv- 
ice in  the  World  War  and  was  assigned  to  a  motor  transport  corps  and 
sent  overseas  in  August  of  that  year.  Mr.  Green  was  a  sergeant  in  his 
company  and  had  charge  of  a  fleet  of  trucks.  He  saw  active  service  in 
France  and  was  discharged  at  Mitchell  Field,  Long  Island,  N.  Y.,  on 
June  29,  1919.  After  his  return  to  Bloomington  he  entered  the  employ 
of  Dayton  Keith  &  Co.,  Ford  dealers,  with  whom  he  remained  until  No- 
vember, 1920,  in  the  sales  department.  At  that  time  he  was  made  man- 
ager of  the  sales  and  service  department.  In  November,  1921,  Mr.  Green 
purchased  an  interest  in  the  T.  K.  Morrow  Co.,  Dodge  dealers,  and  the  fol- 
lowing year  he  went  into  business  for  himself  at  307-09  East  Washington 


History  of  McLean  County  525 

Street.  He  has  the  agency  for  Chevrolet  automobiles  and  trucks  in  Mc- 
Lean County  and  part  of  Livingston  County  and  has  an  up-to-date  sales 
office  and  garage.  The  Tracy  Green  Company  has  nine  retail  salesmen 
and  one  wholesale.  During  the  year  1923,  500  cars  were  sold  by  this 
concern. 

On  June  6,  1917,  Mr.  Green  was  married  to  Miss  Grace  Kessler,  a  na- 
tive of  Vincennes,  Ind.  She  was  educated  at  Grand  Prairie  Seminary  in 
Illinois  and  the  Illinois  Wesleyan  University  at  Bloomington.  Mrs.  Green 
is  a  member  of  the  Daughters  of  the  American  Revolution  and  belongs  to 
the  Sigma  Kappa  Sorority. 

Mr.  Green  is  a  Republican,  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Church,  and 
belongs  to  the  Masonic  Lodge,  being  a  member  of  the  Consistory  and 
Shrine.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Rotary  Club,  the  Young  Men's  Club  of 
Bloomington,  Association  of  Commerce  and  the  Bloomington  Automobile 
Association. 


F.  A.  Eyestone,  now  deceased,  was  a  veteran  of  the  Civil  War  and 
one  of  McLean  County's  substantial  and  highly  respected  citizens.  He 
was  born  in  Wyandott  County,  Ohio,  Feb.  22,  1842,  and  died  June  14, 
1906.  Mr.  Eyestone  was  the  second  son  of  Ezekiel  and  Lucretia  (Bab- 
cock)  Eyestone,  natives  of  Ohio,  and  early  settlers  of  Illinois. 

Ezekiel  Eyestone  brought  his  family  to  Illinois  in  1865  and  engaged 
in  farming  in  McLean  County  for  many  years.  His  first  wife  was  Lu- 
cretia Babcock,  and  to  this  union  four  sons  were  born,  all  of  whom  are 
deceased.    He  was  later  married  to  Miss  Susan  Gustin. 

F.  A.  Eyestone  spent  his  boyhood  on  his  father's  farm  in  Ohio  and 
was  educated  in  the  district  schools  there.  During  the  Civil  War  he 
enlisted  in  123d  Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry  and  served  throughout  the  war. 
He  was  at  Lee's  surrender  and  was  taken  prisoner  on  that  morning. 
After  the  close  of  the  war  Mr.  Eyestone  engaged  in  general  farming  and 
stock  raising  in  McLean  County,  where  he  owned  160  acres  of  land,  one 
mile  east  and  one-half  mile  south  of  McLean.  He  retired  in  1897  and 
moved  to  Bloomington,  where  he  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life. 

On  April  26,  1866,  Mr.  Eyestone  was  married  at  Melmore,  Ohio,  to 
Miss  Minerva  Ralston,  who  was  born  in  Seneca  County,  Ohio,  May  23, 
1847,  the  daughter  of  Samuel  and  Elizabeth   (Parks)   Ralston.     Mr.  and 


526  History  of  McLean  County 

Mrs.  Ralston  were  natives  of  Virginia  and  early  settlers  of  Ohio,  where 
they  died.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Eyestone  no  children  were  born.  They 
adopted  a  daughter,  Charity,  now  the  wife  of  Thomas  Lawrence.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Lawrence  reside  near  McLean,  111.,  and  have  one  son,  Ferando 
Alexander. 

Mr.  Eyestone  was  a  Republican  and  served  as  county  supervisor  for 
12  years,  and  also  as  tax  collector  of  Funks  Grove  Township.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  Methodist  Church  and  belonged  to  the  Masonic  Lodge  and 
the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic.  His  widow  resides  at  701  East  Doug- 
las Street,  Bloomington,  and  still  owns  the  farm  in  Funks  Grove  Town- 
ship.    Mrs.  Eyestone  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Church. 


E.  W.  Martens,  a  member  of  the  firm  of  Martens  &  Clark  Co.,  agents 
for  the  Haynes,  Maxwell  and  Chalmers  motor  cars,  is  a  pioneer  automo- 
bile man  of  McLean  County  and  a  representative  business  man  of  Bloom- 
ington. He  was  born  in  Bloomington,  Oct.  18,  1883,  and  is  the  son  of 
C.  C.  and  Carrie  (Agle)  Martens. 

C.  C.  Martens  was  born  in  Stralzlund,  Germany,  and  came  to  the 
United  States  in  1866,  locating  at  Red  Bud,  111.  Several  years  later  he 
came  to  Bloomington,  and  worked  at  his  trade  as  blacksmith  in  the 
Chrisman  shop.  Mr.  Martens  retired  from  business  in  1910  and  now  re- 
sides in  Pasadena,  Calif.  His  wife  is  a  native  of  Eden,  N.  Y.  They  have 
one  child,  E.  W.,  the  subject  of  this  sketch! 

E.  W.  Martens  grew  up  in  Bloomington  and  received  his  education 
in  the  Lutheran  schools  there  and  also  attended  Brown's  Business  Col- 
lege. He  then  engaged  in  the  implement  business  with  his  father,  and 
continued  in  that  line  of  work  until  his  father  retired  from  business  in 
1910.  Mr.  Martens  has  been  in  the  automobile  business  since  that  time 
and  is  associated  with  John  M.  Clark.  Their  place  of  business  is  at 
315  E.  Front  Street,  and  they  are  distributors  of  Haynes,  Maxwells  and 
Chalmers  automobiles  throughout  the  counties  of  McLean,  Ford,  Wood- 
ford, DeWitt  and  Livingston.  The  firm  does  a  large  volume  of  business 
and  they  have  a  good  salesroom  and  garage  in  connection. 

On  May  1,  1912,  Mr.  Martens  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Marie 
Wellmerling,  a  native  of  Bloomington,  and  the  daughter  of  Lewis  C.  and 
Bertha  (Laesch)  Wellmerling,  natives  of  Germany  and  early  settlers  of 


History  of  McLean  County  527 

Bloomington.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wellmerling  are  now  deceased.  To  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Martens  three  children  have  been  born,  as  follows:  Leota,  Delmar, 
and  Howard. 

In  politics  Mr.  Martens  is  a  Republican  and  he  is  a  member  of  the 
Trinity  Lutheran  Church.  He  belongs  to  the  Illinois  Automotive  Trade 
Association,  is  treasurer  of  the  McLean  County  Automotive  Trade  Asso- 
ciation and  belongs  to  the  Association  of  Commerce.  Mr.  Martens  is  a 
progressive  business  man  of  Bloomington  and  is  well  liked  in  the  town 
and  surrounding  community. 


George  C.  Broyhill,  civil  engineer,  with  offices  at  222  Unity  Building, 
is  among  Bloomington's  enterprising  and  substantial  business  men.  He 
was  born  at  Tremont,  111.,  Feb.  4,  1870,  the  son  of  Ambrose  and  Anna 
(Richmond)  Broyhill. 

Ambrose  Broyhill  was  a  native  of  Tremont,  111.,  and  he  engaged  in 
the  real  estate  business  at  Bloomington  for  many  years  and  in  1882  went 
to  Normal,  where  he  died  in  1914  at  the  age  of  70  years.  His  wife,  a  na- 
tive of  Mackinaw,  111.,  died  in  1912  at  the  age  of  65  years.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Broyhill  had  two  children,  as  follows:  Ada,  married  William  Huff,  lives 
at  Hillview,  111. ;  and  George  C,  the  subject  of  this  sketch. 

George  C.  Broyhill  spent  his  boyhood  at  Normal  and  attended  the 
public  schools  there  and  Illinois  Normal  University.  He  then  engaged 
in  the  real  estate  and  insurance  business  from  1894  until  1898,  Mr.  Broy- 
hill became  associated  with  J.  G.  Melluish  in  civil  engineering.  They  now 
handle  all  classes  of  engineering  and  have  offices  at  222  Unity  Building 
in  Bloomington.     Mr.  Broyhill  lives  at  408  Broadway,  Normal. 

On  Jan.  30,  1901,  Mr.  Broyhill  was  married  to  Miss  Laura  Tipton, 
a  native  of  Bloomington,  and  the  daughter  of  Judge  T.  F.  and  Mary 
(Strayer)  Tipton.  Judge  Tipton  was  a  pioneer  settler  of  Bloomington 
and  a  prominent  attorney  there  for  many  years,  and  also  served  as  con- 
gressman for  two  terms.  Mrs.  Broyhill  is  the  fourth  of  five  children, 
the  oldest  of  whom  is  deceased.    Mr.  and  Mrs.  Broyhill  have  no  children. 

Mr.  Broyhill  is  a  Democrat,  a  member  of  the  Christian  Church,  and 
is  a  32d  degree  Mason  and  belongs  to  the  Bloomington  Consistory  and  the 
Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows.  He  is  a  man  esteemed  throughout 
McLean  County  for  his  reliability  and  industry. 


528  History  of  McLean  County 

Samuel  Kline  McDowell,  the  capable  superintendent  of  city  schools 
of  Bloomington,  111.,  is  one  of  the  well  known  educators  of  the  state 
and  has  many  years  of  successful  experience  to  his  credit  in  school  work. 
He  was  born  near  Gilboa,  Ohio,  Sept.  20,  1866,  a  son  of  James  and  Sarah 
Octavia    (Kline)    McDowell. 

James  McDowell  was  a  native  of  Ohio,  born  near  Pandora,  and  his 
wife  was  also  a  native  of  Ohio,  born  near  Gilboa.  James  McDowell  was 
a  farmer  and  stock  raiser  throughout  his  active  career.  He  was  a  vet- 
eran of  the  Civil  War,  having  enlisted  at  Ottawa,  Ohio,  Oct.  8,  1862, 
becoming  a  member  of  Company  D,  21st  Regiment,  Ohio  Volunteer  In- 
fantry, and  served  under  Capt.  Charles  W.  Allen.  He  served  in  a  num- 
ber of  engagements,  including  the  eight  day  battle  of  Stone  River.  He 
was  discharged  from  the  service  at  Decherd,  Tenn.,  Aug.  7,  1863,  on  ac- 
count of  expiration  of  his  term  of  enlistment.  After  the  war  he  returned 
to  Ohio  and  engaged  in  farming.  He  died  March  29,  1916,  and  is  buried 
in  Harmon  Cemetery,  near  Gilboa,  Ohio.  His  widow  now  resides  at 
Brunswick,  Me. 

To  James  McDowell  and  wife  were  born  the  following  children:  John 
H.,  Troy,  N.  Y. ;  Tamar,  died  Oct.  17,  1901 ;  Inis,  died  Feb.  9,  1909 ;  Flor- 
ence, lives  at  Brunswick,  Me. ;  Prudence,  Canadian,  Texas ;  and  Kline, 
the  subject  of  this  sketch. 

S.  Kline  McDowell  was  reared  on  a  farm  near  Gilboa,  Putnam  County, 
Ohio.  He  was  educated  in  the  country  schools  of  Putnam  County,  Ohio, 
and  after  graduating  from  Belmore  High  School  he  entered  the  Tri-State 
College  at  Angola,  Ind.,  where  he  was  graduated  with  the  degree  of  Bache- 
lor of  Science.  He  is  also  a  graduate  of  the  Illinois  State  formal  Uni- 
versity at  Normal,  111.,  and  was  a  student  of  the  graduate  school  at  the 
University  of  Illinois  at  Urbana.  Mr.  McDowell  began  his  career  as  a 
teacher  in  the  public  schools  near  his  home  in  Ohio.  His  first  school  in 
this  state  was  at  Mt.  Olive,  West  Township,  McLean  County.  He  was 
principal  of  the  Downs  public  schools  for  four  years,  principal  of  the 
McLean  graded  school  five  years,  superintendent  of  the  LeRoy  public 
school  seven  and  one-half  years;  superintendent  of  Hoopeston,  111.,  public 
school  six  and  one-half  years,  superintendent  of  Aurora  public  schools 
(west  side)  five  years,  and  for  the  past  four  years  has  been  superin- 
tendent of  the  Bloomington  public  schools.  In  addition  to  his  regular 
school  work,  Mr.  McDowell  has  been  an  instructor  in  teachers'  institutes 
in  Illinois  during  the  summers  for  the  past  15  years. 


samuel  k.  Mcdowell. 


m 


History  of  McLean  County  529 

On  June  7,  1893,  Samuel  K.  McDowell  was  married  in  West  Town- 
ship, near  LeRoy,  111.,  to  Miss  Ida  Bell  Scott,  a  native  of  West  Township, 
McLean  County,  and  a  daughter  of  William  T.  and  Mary  (Lowe)  Scott, 
the  former  a  native  of  Ohio  and  the  latter  of  McLean  County.  William 
T.  Scott  died  Jan.  29,  1913,  and  his  wife  departed  this  life  Oct.  3,  1913, 
and  their  remains  are  buried  in  Oak  Grove  Cemetery,  LeRoy,  111.  To 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  McDowell  have  been  born  two  children:  Edna  Lucile  Mc- 
Dowell, who  died  Oct.  11,  1918,  at  the  age  of  20  years;  and  William  Scott 
McDowell,  who  is  attending  college  and  resides  with  his  parents  in  Bloom- 
ington. 

Mr.  McDowell  is  a  Republican  and  he  and  Mrs.  McDowell  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Baptist  Church.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Independent  Order 
of  Odd  Fellows  and  is  a  32nd  degree  Mason,  being  a  member  of  the  Bloom- 
ington  Consistory,  Bloomington,  111.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Illinois  State 
Teachers  Association,  the  Illinois  School  Masters  Club,  and  the  National 
Educational  Association. 


Robert  E.  Williams,  an  attorney  of  Bloomington,  is  recognized  as 
one  of  the  representative  members  of  the  bar  of  McLean  County.  He  was 
born  in  Bloomington,  March  11,  1863,  and  is  a  son  of  Robert  E.  and  Mar- 
tha J.  (Smith)  Williams. 

The  Williams  family  dates  back  to  Virginia  where  Ebenezer  Will- 
iams, great  grandfather  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  born  in  1757. 
He  was  a  soldier  in  the  Revolutionary  War.  In  1779  he  married  Miss 
Catherine  Jones,  and  the  following  year  they  moved  to  Pennsylvania. 
One  of  their  sons,  Abraham  Williams,  came  to  McLean  County  in  1856. 
His  wife,  Sally  Hanna,  was  a  native  of  Virginia.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Abraham 
Williams  were  the  parents  of  seven  children,  of  whom  Robert  E.,  father 
of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  the  youngest.  Abraham  Williams  died 
in  1857. 

Robert  E.  Williams,  father  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  a  promi- 
nent attorney  of  McLean  County  for  many  years.  He  was  born  in  Green 
County,  Pa.,  Dec.  3,  1825,  and  died  Feb.  18,  1899.  He  was  educated  at 
Bethany  College  in  West  Virginia  and  also  attended  Washington  and 
Jefferson  College  in  Pennsylvania,  where  he  was  a  classmate  of  James  G. 
Blaine.     Mr.  Williams  then  studied  law  in  Kentucky  and  was  admitted 

(32) 


530  History  of  McLean  County 

to  the  bar  there.  He  practiced  law  in  DeWitt  County,  Texas,  for  sev- 
eral years  and  was  prosecuting  attorney  there.  In  1856  he  came  to 
Bloomington  to  practice  his  profession  and  was  a  partner  of  Major  Pack- 
ard, and  later  Hudson  Burr.  At  the  time  of  his  death  Mr.  Williams  was 
practicing  law  with  Charles  Capen.  He  was  a  Democrat,  a  member  of 
the  Christian  Church  and  belonged  to  the  Masonic  Lodge. 

Mr.  Williams  was  personally  acquainted  with  Lincoln  and  was  also  a 
friend  of  Stephen  A.  Douglas,  senator  from  Illinois.  For  a  number  of 
years  he  was  attorney  for  the  Illinois  Central  and  Chicago  &  Alton 
railroads. 

Mr.  Williams  was  married  in  December,  1851,  to  Miss  Martha  J. 
Smith,  who  was  born  in  Tennessee,  1835.  She  was  a  daughter  of  James 
N.  and  Elizabeth  (Moorehead)  Smith,  the  former  a  native  of  North  Caro- 
lina and  the  latter  of  Tennessee.     Mrs.  Williams  died  Aug.  25,  1882. 

Robert  E.  Williams  was  reared  and  educated  in  Bloomington  and  was 
admitted  to  the  bar  in  1887.  He  is  unmarried.  He  is  a  Democrat,  a  mem- 
ber of  the  school  board,  and  belongs  to  the  Association  of  Commerce,  the 
Bloomington  Club,  and  the  Bloomington  Country  Club.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  Sons  of  the  American  Revolution  and  belongs  to  the  Phi  Delta  fra- 
ternity.   Mr.  Williams  is  an  excellent  citizen  and  an  asset  to  his  community 


The  Illinois  Feed  and  Elevator  Company,  among  the  leading  busi- 
ness enterprises  of  Bloomington,  was  incorporated  Oct.  7,  1920,  with  an 
authorized  capitalization  of  $150,000  of  which  $124,000  is  paid  in.  The 
following  are  the  officers:  J.  A.  Harrison,  President;  Delmond  Sensen- 
baugh,  Vice-President;  George  P.  Stautz,  Secretary,  and  Jesse  E.  Dam- 
eron,  Treasurer.  The  above  mentioned  officers,  together  with  Robert  T. 
Lain,  R.  C.  Roberts,  Daniel  Ward,  Sage  H.  Kinnie  and  J.  A.  Eckert,  con- 
stitute the  board  of  directors. 

Immediately  upon  the  organization  of  the  corporation,  the  mill  and 
elevator  property  formerly  owned  by  L.  E.  Slick  and  Company,  was  pur- 
chased and  this  mill  was  converted  into  a  plant  for  manufacturing  mixed 
feeds  for  livestock  and  poultry.  The  work  of  converting  the  old  ma- 
chinery and  the  installation  of  much  new  improved  machinery  was  com- 
pleted by  Nov.  1,  1920,  when  operations  began  in  earnest.    By  construction 


History  of  McLean  County  531 

of  additional  railway  switches  and  some  improvements  in  the  elevator, 
this  concern  has  a  capacity  of  ten  cars  of  manufactured  products  per  day. 
The  concrete  elevator  has  storage  capacity  for  100,000  bushels  of  grain. 
The  elevator  is  equipped  with  the  latest  improved  machinery  for  clean- 
ing grain,  thus  permitting  the  proper  cleaning  and  conditioning  of  grain. 
The  elevator  also  has  a  large  Ellis  grain  dryer  which  is  used  to  eliminate 
excessive  moisture  in  corn. 

During  the  first  year  this  company's  business  amounted  to  a  million 
dollars.  This  was  the  result  of  placing  a  highly  experienced  sales  organi- 
zation in  the  New  England  states,  New  York,  New  Jersey,  Pennsylvania, 
West  Virginia,  Ohip,  Indiana,  Kentucky  and  Illinois,  as  well  as  their  abil- 
ity and  willingness  to  put  out  a  high  quality,  scientifically  prepared,  per- 
fectly balanced  ration.  Since  the  first  year,  the  business  of  this  organiza- 
tion has  increased  materially. 

Some  few  years  back,  manufactured  feeds  were  unknown  to  practi- 
cal feeders.  With  the  advent  of  highly  specialized  agricultural  courses 
in  our  leading  universities,  it  was  demonstrated  to  the  satisfaction  of 
practical  feeders  that  their  rations  must  contain  properly  balanced 
amounts  of  chemical  properties,  such  as  protein,  fat,  carbon-hydrates,  min- 
erals and  vitamins  to  produce  the  best  and  most  profitable  results.  The 
average  farmer  does  not  have  at  his  command  all  the  grains  or  grain 
products  necessary,  nor  the  requisite  machinery  for  thoroughly  mixing 
a  perfectly  balanced  ration.  This  is  where  the  feed  manufacturer  takes 
his  place  in  the  scheme  of  events  and  through  quantity,  economical  and 
thorough  production  is  enabled  to  deliver  the  finished  article  to  the  feeder 
at  less  cost  than  would  result  from  efforts  at  individual  manufacture. 
Mixed  feed  manufacturing  is  sotfnd  economically  and  serves  a  real  pur- 
pose in  carrying  out,  practically,  important  discoveries  in  the  science  of 
animal  nutrition. 

Citizens  of  Bloomington  will  be  interested  in  knowing  that  the  name 
"Bloomington"  is  prominently  featured  in  the  printed  matter  appearing 
on  every  bag  of  feed  that  leaves  this  plant.  Their  "Illinois"  and  "Home- 
stead" brands  of  feed  are  on  sale  in  all  of  the  larger  cities  such  as  New 
York,  Boston,  Washington,  Baltimore,  Philadelphia,  Pittsburgh,  Cincin- 
nati, Indianapolis,  and  many  of  the  smaller  cities  and  towns  from  Bloom- 
ington east  to  the  Atlantic  coast.  Naturally  this  is  a  nice  advertising 
medium  for  the  "Evergreen  City." 


532  History  of  McLean  County 

Production  is  in  charge  of  Mr.  Sensenbaugh,  who  has  had  several 
years  experience  with  both  the  American  Hominy  Company  of  Decatur, 
111.,  and  the  Charles  A.  Krause  Milling  Company  of  Milwaukee,  Wis., 
which  organizations  were  pioneers  in  the  mixed  feed  industry.  Mr. 
Sensenbaugh  is  a  highly  trained  miller  as  well  as  an  experienced  milling 
engineer,  so  that  production  is  in  good  hands. 

Sales  are  directed  by  Mr.  Stautz  who  has  proven  himself  adequately 
fitted  for  the  position.  Mr.  Stautz  has  assembled  a  high-class  sales  or- 
ganization and  has  the  best  salesmen  in  the  feed  consuming  territory  that 
it  is  possible  to  secure.  Mr.  Stautz  has  already  established  himself  with 
the  trade  as  a  man  of  excellent  busines  integrity  and  competitive  manu- 
facturers have  been  compelled  to  recognize  him  as  an  aggressive  mer- 
chandiser. 

Purchases  of  raw  materials  are  handled  by  Mr.  Dameron.  Some 
forty  different  grain,  seeds  and  grain  products  enter  the  composition  of 
"Illinois"  and  "Homestead"  feeds  and  they  are  purchased  from  such  dis- 
tant points  as  New  Mexico,  Minnesota,  New  York,  Colorado,  Pennsylvania, 
Indiana,  Arkansas,  Wisconsin,  Nebraska,  Iowa  and  Dakota.  A  nation- 
wide knowledge  of  grain  and  raw  materials  is  required  by  the  buyer  of 
a  modern  feed  plant  and  the  trade"  generally  credits  Mr.  Dameron  with 
the  highest  integrity  and  sagacity. 

Traffic  matters  are  very  ably  handled  by  Mr.  E.  L.  Steele  and  be- 
cause of  his  ability  to  handle  the  railroad  situation,  the  customers  of  the 
organization  through  the  East  feel  that  they  can  depend  on  the  company 
for  service  and  prompt  deliveries.  The  company  knows  that  service 
is  a  prerequisite  of  increasing  business  and  has  earnestly  endeavored  to 
make  this  feature  an  asset. 

Aside  from  furnishing  employment  for  considerable  labor,  this  rap- 
idly growing  concern  has  created  a  nearby  market  for  Central  Illinois 
grain.  Inasmuch  as  the  business  is  steady  and  not  seasonal,  grain  ship- 
pers throughout  the  Corn  Belt  now  seek  Bloomington  as  a  market,  where 
they  are  assured  through  the  Bloomington  Association  of  Commerce,  offi- 
cial weight  and  Federal  inspection  on  all  their  shipments. 

Since  exports  of  grain  have  fallen  off  as  a  result  of  the  war  and  since 
it  now  behooves  each  territory  to  dispose  of  its  surplus  products  through 
other  channels,  the  Central  Illinois  Corn  Belt  is  coming  to  recognize 
Bloomington  as  a  terminal  market  and  naturally  realize  that  this  indus- 
try occupies  a  predominant  place  where  their  grains  may  be  consumed. 


History  of  McLean  County  533 

Poultry  and  dairy  producing  territories  have  had  such  wonderful 
results  from  the  products  purchased  from  this  manufacturer  that  a  steady 
market  is  assured  and  this  new  industry  is  certain  to  prosper. 


E.  C.  Martens,  who  is  successfully  engaged  in  the  automobile  business 
at  315  E.  Front  Street  with  E.  W.  Martens,  is  a  member  of  one  of  Mc- 
Lean County's  pioneer  families.  He  was  born  in  Bloomington,  Jan.  26, 
1878,  and  is  the  son  of  Henry  T.  and  Fredericka  (Pufpaff)  Martens. 

Henry  T.  Martens  came  to  this  country  June  28,  1869,  and  worked 
on  the  farm  of  James  and  Henry  Ewing  in  McLean  County.  In  1870  he 
learned  the  painting  trade  with  his  brother-in-law,  John  Pufpaff,  and  they 
were  partners  in  business  for  three  years.  In  1873  Mr.  Martens  engaged 
in  business  in  Bloomington  for  himself;  this  he  conducted  for  44  years 
and  was  one  of  the  pioneer  painters  of  the  city.  His  business  is  now  con- 
ducted by  his  sons,  Henry  T.,  Jr.,  and  Bernard  Martens.  Mr.  Martens 
died  in  1916  at  the  age  of  69  years  and  his  widow  lives  at  1508  South 
Main  Street,  Bloomington.  They  were  the  parents  of  four  children,  as 
follows:  Albert,  lives  in  Bloomington;  E.  C,  the  subject  of  this  sketch; 
Henry  and  Bernard,  mention  of  whom  is  made  above. 

E.  C.  Martens  received  his  education  in  Trinity  Lutheran  School  of 
Bloomington  and  attended  Brown's  Business  College.  He  was  in  the  paint- 
ing and  decorating  business  with  his  father  for  seven  years  and  then 
became  manager  of  the  McLean  County  Telephone  Company,  which  posi- 
tion he  held  for  nine  years.  After  being  in  the  employ  of  the  Moline  Plow 
Company  as  manager  for  five  years,  Mr.  Martens  went  into  business  for 
himself  in  Bloomington.  He  has  been  in  the  automobile  and  implement 
business  since  June,  1917,  and  in  March,  1924,  became  engaged  in  the  auto 
business  with  E.  W.  Martens.  They  handle  the  Chrysler,  Maxwell  auto- 
mobiles and  Moline  farm  implements.  t 

On  Dec.  29,  1903,  Mr.  Martens  was  married  to  Miss  Henrietta 
Schwulst,  a  native  of  Bloomington,  and  the  daughter  of  John  F.  and  Wil- 
helmina  (Ritz)  Schwulst,  natives  of  Germany.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Martens 
have  one  child,  Bernadine. 

Mr.  Martens  is  a  member  of  the  Trinity  Lutheran  Church  and  be- 
longs to  the  Association  of  Commerce.  He  is  a  man  of  integrity  and 
ability,  who  is  making  a  success  of  his  business. 


534  History  of  McLean  County 

Roy  W.  Batterton,  a  grocery  merchant  of  Bloomington,  is  a  member 
of  a  wellknown  pioneer  family  of  Illinois.  He  was  bor  nat  Petersburg,  111., 
March  19,  1880,  and  is  a  son  of  J.  C.  and  Emma  (Clary)  Batterton. 

J.  C.  Batterton  was  born  at  Petersburg,  111.,  as  also  was  his  wife.  He 
was  a  son  of  E.  C.  Batterton,  who  came  to  Illinois  from  Kentucky  in  1818. 
E.  C.  Batterton  settled  in  Sangamon  County,  where  he  followed  farming 
for  many  years.  He  died  at  Athens,  111.  His  son  was  a  school  teacher 
and  died  March  19,  1922,  at  the  age  of  78  years.  His  widow  resides  at 
Springfield,  111.  They  were  the  parents  of  seven  children,  four  of  whom 
are  now  living  as  follows:  Roy  W.  Batterton,  the  subject  of  this  sketch; 
Florence,  the  wife  of  Lawrence  Mannell,  of  Bloomington ;  Myrtle,  the  wife 
of  Verne  Martin,  Clinton,  111. ;  and  Lillian,  wife  of  H.  H.  Zorn,  Spring- 
field, 111. 

Roy  W.  Batterton  was  reared  and  educated  at  Petersburg,  111.  After 
being  employed  in  a  grocery  store  there  for  seven  years,  he  came  to 
Bloomington  in  1906  and  entered  the  employ  of  Gray  Brothers,  grocers. 
In  1919  when  the  firm  was  incorporated  he  became  a  stockholder.  This 
business  is  located  at  314  North  Main  Street. 

On  May  12,  1907,  Mr.  Batterton  was  married  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Derry, 
a  native  of  Petersburg,  111.,  and  the  daughter  of  J.  M.  and  Martha  (Pol- 
lock) Derry,  the  former  a  native  of  Virginia  and  the  latter  of  Ohio.  They 
are  now  deceased.  To  Roy  W.  and  Elizabeth  (Derry)  Batterton  two  chil- 
dren have  been  born,  Doris  Ethel  and  Rachel  Marie. 

Mr.  Batterton  is  a  Democrat  and  a  member  of  the  Knights  of  Pyth- 
ias. He  is  accounted  one  of  the  progressive  and  reliable  business  men 
of  Bloomington. 


Lester  H.  Martin,  State's  attorney,  is  a  well-known  citizen  of  McLean 
County  and  a  member  of  a  pioneer  family  of  Illinois.  He  was  born  in 
Anchor  Township,  McLean  County,  Aug.  28,  1878,  and  is  a  son  of  Joseph 
and  Mary  (Williams)  Martin. 

Joseph  Martin,  a  native  of  Zanesville,  Ohio,  was  born  Dec.  1,  1852, 
the  son  of  Henry  and  Jane  (Wilson)  Martin,  natives  of  Ohio.  Henry  Mar- 
tin served  during  the  Mexican  War  and  at  the  time  of  his  death  in  1915, 
was  one  of  the  two  surviving  Mexican  War  veterans  of  Illinois.  He  set- 
tled in  Illinois  in  1851  and  farmed  in  Woodford  County.    To  Mr.  and  Mrs. 


History  of  McLean  County  535 

Henry  Martin  four  children  were  born,  two  of  whom  are  now  living,  as 
follows:  Joseph,  father  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch;  and  Susan  Gomien, 
who  lives  at  Colfax,  111. 

Joseph  Martin  was  a  successful  farmer  of  McLean  County  for  many 
years  and  now  lives  at  Colfax,  111.  His  wife  was  born  in  McLean  County, 
Aug.  3,  1854,  and  died  Oct.  18,  1913.  They  were  the  parents  of  five  chil- 
dren, as  follows:  Lester  H.,  the  subject  of  this  sketch;  Leta,  married 
Ernest  Steele ;  James  R. ;  Joseph,  Jr. ;  and  Ida,  married  Oscar  Anderson. 
All  the  members  of  the  Martin  family  are  now  residents  of  McLean  County. 

Lester  H.  Martin  grew  up  on  his  father's  farm  in  McLean  County  and 
attended  the  public  school.  He  was  graduated  from  the  law  school  of 
Illinois  Wesleyan  University  in  1903.  After  practicing  his  profession 
at  Colfax  for  five  years  he  went  to  Winfield,  Kan.,  in  1908.  The  follow- 
ing year  he  came  to  Bloomington  where  he  has  since  been  located.  Mr. 
Martin  has  an  excellent  practice  in  McLean  County  and  is  widely  known 
throughout  the  state.    He  has  served  as  State's  attorney  since  1920. 

In  1904  Mr.  Martin  was  married  to  Miss  Maiw  Beckwith,  a  native  of 
Gilman,  111.     They  have  two  children,  Lowell  and  Rodger,  both  at  home. 

In  politics  Mr.  Martin  is  identified  with  the  Republican  party.  He  is 
a  member  of  the  Methodist  Church  and  belongs  to  the  Masonic  Lodge  and 
Knights  of  Pythias.  Mr.  Martin  owns  185  acres  of  land  in  Anchor  and 
White  Oak  townships,  McLean  County.  His  office  is  located  at  204  Unity 
Building,  Bloomington. 


Oscar  G.  Hoose,  a  member  of  the  firm  of  Hall,  Martin,  Hoose  &  De- 
Pew,  is  a  leading  attorney  of  McLean  County.  He  was  born  at  Atlanta, 
III,  July  21,  1887,  and  is  a  son  of  George  J.  and  Fredericka  (Schoth) 
Hoose. 

George  J.  Hoose  was  born  in  Pekin,  III,  and  his  wife  was  a  native 
of  Germany.  He  settled  in  Atlanta,  111.,  in  1880,  and  is  now  engaged  in 
the  hardware  business  there.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hoose  were  the  parents  of 
four  children.    The  mother  died  in  1910,  at  the  age  of  45  years. 

Oscar  G.  Hoose  was  reared  and  educated  in  Atlanta  and  after  finish- 
ing high  school  there  in  1906,  came  to  Bloomington.  In  1914  he  was 
graduated  from  the  Law  Department  of  Illinois  Wesleyan  University  and 
commenced   practicing  law   in   partnership   with   Lester  Martin.      Later 


536  History  of  McLean  County 

Judge  Hall  became  a  member  of  the  firm,  which  was  then  known  as  Hall, 
Martin  &  Hoose.  In  1920  J.  R.  DePew  became  a  member  of  the  firm. 
Their  offices  are  located  on  the  second  floor  of  the  Unity  building. 

During  the  World  War  Mr.  Hoose  enlisted  and  was  sent  to  Jackson- 
ville, Fla.,  where  he  attended  the  officers'  training  school.  He  was  sta- 
tioned there  at  the  time  of  the  armistice.  He  was  commander,  during 
1923,  of  the  Louis  E.  Davis  Post  No.  56,  American  Legion.  Mr.  Hoose 
is  a  Republican,  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Church  and  belongs  to  the 
Masonic  Lodge,  the  Consistory  of  Bloomington  and  the  Shrine  of  Peoria. 
He  belongs  to  the  Phi  Delta  Phi  and  the  T.  K.  E.  fraternities,  and  since 
his  graduation  has  been  treasurer  and  president  of  the  latter. 

Mr.  Hoose  is  a  member  of  the  Bloomington  Club  and  the  Maplewood 
Country  Club.  He  is  unmarried.  Mr.  Hoose  is  an  able  man  in  his  pro- 
fession, a  citizen  of  progressive  ideals  and  a  man  highly  esteemed  in 
McLean  County. 

In  February,  1924,  Mr.  Hoose  was  appointed  Master  in  Chancery  of 
McLean  County,  111. 


Jacob  E.  Morrison,  the  able  and  highly  esteemed  sheriff  of  McLean 
County,  is  a  native  of  Illinois.  He  was  born  at  Danvers,  June  19,  1864, 
and  is  a  son  of  John  R.  and  Cynthia  Hill  (Hall)  Morrison. 

John  R.  Morrison  was  born  in  Upshur  County,  W.  Va.,  and  his  wife 
was  born  at  Salem,  N.  H.  He  was  a  prominent  farmer  and  stockman 
for  many  years  and  served  as  constable  for  52  years  and  as  local  deputy 
sheriff  under  Richard  Osborne,  Gus  Lange,  Henry  Honscheidt,  James 
Goodheart,  Joseph  Ator,  H.  H.  Swaim,  James  Stone  and  George  John- 
ston. Mr.  and  Mrs.  Morrison,  now  deceased,  were  the  parents  of  the  fol- 
lowing children :  Alice  Wilson,  lives  at  Danvers,  111. ;  Susan  Wilson,  also 
lives  at  Danvers;  and  J.  E.,  the  subject  of  this  sketch. 

J.  E.  Morrison  received  his  education  in  the  public  and  high  school 
at  Danvers  and  attended  Illinois  Wesleyan  University.  He  began  life 
as  a  farmer  and  was  actively  engaged  in  stock  raising  until  1895  at  which 
time  he  was  appointed  chief  of  police  at  Danvers.  During  his  term  of 
eight  years  he  was  noted  as  a  thief  taker  and  terror  of  evil  doers.  Mr. 
Morrison  entered  the  United  States  mail  service  in  1903  and  after  eight, 
years  resigned  his  position  to  accept  the  appointment  of  chief  deputy  in 


History  of  McLean  County  537 

the  sheriff's  office  under  James  Reeder.  After  four  years  in  that  position 
he  retired  to  take  up  farming  and  auctioneering,  and  successfully  con- 
ducted farm  and  pure  bred  stock  sales  in  central  Illinois,  Iowa,  Missouri 
and  the  Dakotas.  He  was  appointed  sheriff  of  McLean  County  in  1921, 
to  serve  an  unexpired  term  and  was  then  elected  for  a  four  year  term. 
Mr.  Morrison  will  have  the  honor  of  being  the  only  sheriff  in  McLean 
County  to  serve  over  four  consecutive  years  since  1880.  During  his 
term  he  has  administered  the  affairs  of  his  office  fearlessly  and  impar- 
tially, enforcing  the  law,  and  he  has  become  known  throughout  the  state 
as  a  terror  to  bootleggers  and  other  law  violators.  He  is  unalterably 
opposed  to  the  parole  or  probation  system,  believing  as  he  says  "that  every 
tub  should  stand  on  its  own  bottom",  and  that  every  law  violator  should 
be  punished   for  his  crime. 

On  March  10,  1885,  Mr.  Morrison  was  married  at  Danvers  to  Miss 
Jennie  Bethel,  a  native  of  Heyworth,  111.,  and  the  daughter  of  Isaac  and 
Sarah  M.  (Noble)  Bethel,  natives  of  McLean  County.  Mr.  Bethel  was 
killed  in  a  saw  mill  accident  at  Funk's  Grove,  111.,  in  1866,  and  his  wife 
died  in  1913.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Morrison  the  following  children  have 
been  born:  John  E.,  a  prominent  attorney  of  Joliet,  111.,  and  a  veteran  of 
the  World  War,  having  served  as  a  major,  and  decorated  with  the  Cross 
with  Palms;  Isaac  L.,  lives  at  Danvers,  111.;  Linn  N.,  a  deputy  sheriff  at 
Bloomington ;  and  Charles  A.,  a  law  student,  lives  at  Bloomington. 

Mr.  Morrison  is  a  Republican  and  has  served  as  highway  commis- 
sioner of  Randolph  Township,  McLean  County.  He  and  his  family  are 
members  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  and  he  belongs  to  the  Independent 
Order  of  Odd  Fellows.  Mr.  Morrison  is  a  progressive  citizen  and  a  cap- 
able and  efficient  officer  of  the  county. 


E.  L.  Henninger,  manager  of  the  Traffic  Bureau  of  the  Association  of 
Commerce,  is  a  native  of  Bloomington.  He  was  born  Aug.  11,  1891,  and  is 
a  son  of  Gottfried  and  Rose  (Schwarz)  Henninger. 

Gottfried  Henninger  and  his  wife  were  born  in  Germany.  They  were 
married  in  McLean  County  and  reside  at  Bloomington,  where  Mr.  Hen- 
ninger has  been  employed  as  section  foreman  by  the  Illinois  Central  Rail- 
road for  25  years.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Henninger  have  seven  children  of  whom 
E.  L.,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  is  the  third  in  order  of  birth. 


538  History  of  McLean  County 

E.  L.  Henninger  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  Bloomington 
and  after  working  on  a  farm  for  one  year  was  employed  in  a  commission 
house  in  Bloomington.  In  1909  he  entered  the  employ  of  the  Illinois 
Central  Railroad  where  he  remained  for  six  years.  After  working  for 
the  Lake  Erie  and  Western  Railroad  for  three  and  one-half  years  and  the 
Chicago  &  Alton  Railroad,  he  resigned  and  accepted  his  present  position 
with  the  Association  of  Commerce.  While  in  the  employ  of  the  railroads 
he  worked  as  billing  clerk  and  rating  clerk. 

On  Nov.  17,  1912,  Mr.  Henninger  was  married  to  Miss  Amanda  Lier- 
mann,  a  native  of  Bloomington  and  a  daughter  of  Fred  and  Minnie  (Mil- 
ler) Liermann,  natives  of  Germany  and  early  settlers  of  Bloomington. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Henninger  have  two  children,  Edward  and  Lawrence. 

Mr.  Henninger  is  a  Republican,  a  member  of  the  Evangelical  Luth- 
eran Church  and  is  president  of  the  Lions  Club  of  Bloomington.  Mr. 
Henninger  is  an  excellent  citizen  and  one  who  holds  the  respect  of  the 
entire  community. 


D.  D.  Bishop,  who  lives  retired  at  Normal,  has  been  prominently  iden- 
tified with  McLean  County  for  many  years,  and  is  a  member  of  one  of  the 
county's  oldest  families.  He  is  a  native  of  Money  Creek  Township,  where 
he  was  born  in  a  log  cabin,  May  4,  1863,  the  son  of  F.  A.  and  Esther  Ann 
(Dodson)  Bishop. 

F.  A.  Bishop  was  born  in  Money  Creek  Township,  Sept.  3,  1838,  and 
he  was  the  son  of  W.  F.  and  Prudence  (Berrickman)  Bishop,  the  former 
a  native  of  North  Carolina  and  the  latter  of  Vermilion  County,  111.  W.  F. 
Bishop  was  a  prominent  farmer  of  McLean  County  during  his  life  and  a 
minister  of  the  Methodist  Church.  He  was  the  son  of  William  Bishop, 
one  of  the  first  settlers  of  McLean  County,  who  was  a  cabinet  maker  and 
pioneer  coffin  maker  of  the  community,  making  coffins  out  of  native  walnut. 

F.  A.  Bishop  followed  farming  during  his  life  and  met  with  marked 
success.  He  spent  10  years  in  Iowa  during  the  latter  part  of  his  life  and 
died  at  Doniphan,  Mo.,  in  1921.  His  wife,  Esther  Ann  Dodson,  was  a 
native  of  Ohio,  born  in  1837,  and  the  daughter  of  William  and  Betty 
(Kunan)  Dodson,  early  settlers  of  McLean  County.  Mr.  Dodson  was  a 
music  teacher  and  a  well-known  singer  during  his  life.  Mrs.  F.  A.  Bishop 
died  May  6,  1915.    Mr.  and  Mrs.  F.  A.  Bishop  had  six  children,  as  follows: 


History  of  McLean  County  539 

Rose,  lives  at  Hooker,  Okla. ;  D.  D.,  the  subject  of  this  sketch;  Mrs.  Pru- 
dence Bingham,  lives  at  Webster  City.  Iowa;  E.  S.,  lives  in  Colorado; 
L.  P.,  lives  at  Limon,  Colo. ;  and  W.  F.,  deceased. 

D.  D.  Bishop  was  reared  on  his  father's  farm  and  received  his  educa- 
tion in  the  Bishop  District  School  in  Money  Creek  Township.  He  re- 
mained on  the  home  place  until  1886,  at  which  time  he  engaged  in  farm- 
ing for  himself  on  rented  land  in  Money  Creek  Township.  In  1894  Mr. 
Bishop  purchased  land  in  Hamilton  County,  Iowa,  which  he  farmed  until 
1897,  when  he  returned  to  McLean  County  and  purchased  a  farm  in 
Money  Creek  Township.  He  now  owns  120  acres  of  well  improved  land, 
but  since  1908  has  lived  retired  at  Normal,  111. 

On  Nov.  18,  1886,  Mr.  Bishop  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Cora 
Hefner,  a  native  of  Money  Creek  Township,  born  June  10,  1869,  and  the 
daughter  of  G.  M.  and  Elizabeth  (Durham)  Hefner,  the  former  a  native 
of  Money  Creek  Township  and  the  latter  of  Virginia.  To  D.  D.  and  Cora 
(Hefner)  Bishop  one  child  was  born,  Mabel  McVey,  who  has  one  son, 
Davidson  McVey,  and  they  live  with  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bishop. 

Mr.  Bishop  is  identified  with  the  Republican  party  in  politics  and  has 
served  as  road  commissioner  of  Money  Creek  Township.  He  helped  or- 
ganize the  Normal  State  Bank  at  Normal  and  is  a  director.  Mr.  Bishop 
is  a  member  of  the  First  United  Brethren  Church  and  is  trustee  and 
treasurer  of  the  church,  and  he  belongs  to  the  Knights  of  Pythias  at 
Lexington.    He  is  one  of  McLean  County's  most  highly  respected  citizens. 


Alex  Keady,  retired,  was  for  many  years  a  leading  business  man  of 
Normal,  and  he  is  a  veteran  of  the  Civil  War.  He  was  born  near  Wheel- 
ing, W.  Va.,  Sept.  17,  1841,  in  a  two-room  log  cabin,  the  son  of  Samuel 
G.  and  Ellen  (Yates)  Keady. 

Samuel  K.  Keady  was  born  in  Ireland,  May  24,  1804,  and  he  died  in 
Peoria  County,  111.,  in  1853.  He  came  to  the  United  States  when  he  was 
18  years  of  age  and  settled  in  Virginia,  where  he  taught  school.  His 
wife  was  born  July  9,  1808,  and  died  Dec.  2,  1881.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Samuel  K. 
Keady  were  the  parents  of  10  children,  three  of  whom  are  now  living, 
as  follows:  Mary,  the  widow  of  Peter  Kelley,  lives  in  Iowa,  and  is  93 
years  of  age;  Louisa  E.,  the  widow  of  Samuel  M.  Coburn,  lives  at  Inter- 
lachen,  Fla. ;  and  Alex,  the  subject  of  this  sketch. 


540  History  of  McLean  County 

Alex  Keady  attended  school  in  a  log  cabin  in  Virginia  and  he  has 
always  been  a  great  reader.  He  followed  general  farming  and  stock  rais- 
ing until  he  was  50  years  of  age  and  then  moved  to  Normal,  111.,  where  he 
engaged  in  the  real  estate  and  insurance  business.  He  enlisted  for  serv- 
ice during  the  Civil  War  and  served  for  one  year  with  Company  A,  151st 
Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry.  Besides  his  business  interests  at  Normal, 
Mr.  Keady  served  as  editor  and  state  lecturer  for  The  Granger,  a  weekly 
newspaper.  He  also  wrote  for  the  Peoria  Star  for  a  number  of  years. 
Mr.  Keady  retired  in  May,  1920,  and  lives  at  509  Fell  Avenue,  Normal. 

On  March  7,  1871,  Mr.  Keady  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Mag- 
gie Wilder,  a  native  of  Peoria  County,  111.,  born  April  21,  1849.  She  died 
April  9,  1883,  leaving  three  children,  as  follows:  Marian,  deceased,  was 
the  wife  of  Ernest  Wilson;  Eleanor,  married  John  B.  Graham,  lives  at 
Princeville,  111. ;  and  Maggie,  married  Harry  Mathews,  lives  at  Prince- 
ville,  111.  On  Jan.  6,  1886,  Mr.  Keady  was  married  to  Miss  Cora  Schnebly, 
a  native  of  Peoria,  111.,  born  March  11,  1859,  and  the  daughter  of  Joseph 
and  Elizabeth  (Stonebraker)  Schnebly,  the  former  a  native  of  Pennsyl- 
vania and  the  latter  of  Maryland.  Mr.  Schnebly  came  to  Illinois  with  his 
parents  in  1835  and  in  1856  went  to  Maryland,  where  he  was  married.  He 
returned  to  Illinois  with  his  wife  the  same  year  of  their  marriage.  Be- 
fore her  marriage,  Mrs.  Keady  taught  school  for  nine  years  in  Peoria 
County,  111.  She  is  a  member  of  the  Christian  and  Missionary  Alliance 
and  she  has  done  a  considerable  amount  of  writing  along  missionary  lines. 
Mrs.  Keady  is  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church. 

Alex  Keady  is  a  Democrat  and  for  the  past  20  years  has  served  as 
justice  of  the  peace,  and  for  30  years  as  a  member  of  the  Peoria  County 
school  board.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  and  belongs 
to  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic,  the  Masonic  Lodge  and  the  Modern 
Woodmen  of  America.  Mr.  Keady  is  a  substantial  and  well-known  citizen 
of  McLean  County,  and  the  Keady  family  stands  high  in  the  community. 


John  B.  Owens,  a  well-known  retired  farmer  of  McLean  County  and 
the  owner  of  240  acres  of  land,  is  a  native  of  Lexington  Township,  Mc- 
Lean County.  He  was  born  March  3,  1860,  the  son  of  B.  C.  S.  and  Eliza- 
zeth  (Pendry)  Owens. 

B.  C.  S.  Owens  was  a  native  of  Clinton  County,  Ohio,  as  also  was  his 
wife,  and  they  came  to  McLean  County  in  1845  and  located  on  a  farm  in 


History  of  McLean  County  541 

Lexington  Township,  where  they  died.  They  were  the  parents  of  seven 
children,  four  of  whom  are  now  living,  as  follows:  Jennie,  the  widow  of 
Squire  Heller,  lives  at  Normal;  Susan,  the  widow  of  Herbert  E.  Bliss, 
lives  in  Blue  Mound  Township;  Thomas  P.,  lives  on  E.  Monroe  Street, 
Bloomington,  111. ;  and  John  B.,  the  subject  of  this  sketch. 

John  B.  Owens  grew  up  on  his  father's  farm  in  Lexington  Town- 
ship and  received  his  education  in  the  district  schools.  He  inherited  80 
acres  of  land  and  later  purchased  more  land  until  he  became  the  owner  of 
240  acres.  Mr.  Owens  followed  general  farming  and  stock  raising  until 
1917,  when  he  retired  and  moved  to  Normal,  where  he  owns  a  fine  brick 
residence  at  24  Cedarcrest  Avenue. 

On  Nov.  9,  1883,  Mr.  Owens  was  married  to  Miss  Mary  A.  Wheeler, 
a  native  of  Money  Creek  Township,  McLean  County,  born  Oct.  13,  1858, 
and  the  daughter  of  Isaac  and  Harriet  (Leeding)  Wheeler,  the  former  a 
native  of  Pennsylvania  and  the  latter  of  England.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wheeler 
were  the  parents  of  four  children,  as  follows:  One  died  in  infancy;  Ben- 
jamin F.,  lives  at  Denver,  Colo. ;  Robert  L.,  lives  at  Seneca,  Kan. ;  and 
Mrs.  Owens.  To  John  B.  and  Mary  A  (Wheeler)  Owens  three  children 
were  born,  as  follows:  One  died  in  infancy;  Mabel,  married  George 
Schlosser,  lives  in  Blue  Mound  Township;  and  Maude,  married  Louis  Sut- 
ter, lives  in  Blue  Mound  Township,  McLean  County.  Mrs.  Schlosser  has 
two  children,  Nadine  Owens  and  Doreen  Louise,  and  Mrs.  Sutter  has  two 
children,  Wava  Marie  and  Jeanene  Lavece. 

Mr.  Owens  and  his  family  are  highly  esteemed  members  of  their  com- 
munity. The  Owens  name  has  stood  for  high  ideals  and  progress  ever 
since  the  pioneer  days,  when  it  was  first  known  in  this  part  of  Illinois. 


Dr.  Ferdinand  C.  McCormick,  who  is  widely  known  throughout  Mc- 
Lean County  as  a  successful  physician  and  surgeon,  was  born  at  Normal, 
Sept.  17,  1874,  and  is  a  son  of  Henry  and  Numanthia  B.  (Kinyon)  McCor- 
mick. Henry  McCormick  was  widely  known  for  many  years  as  a  pro- 
fessor of  history  in  the  Illinois  State  Normal  University.  To  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  McCormick  five  children  were  born  as  follows:  Alice  C,  married  0. 
R.  Trowbridge,  a  well-known  attorney  and  author;  Dr.  N.  K.,  deceased, 
a  sketch  of  whom  appears  in  this  history;  Edmund  B.,  professor  of  me- 
chanical engineering  in  the  State  Agricultural  College;  Dr.  Ferdinand  C, 


542  History  of  McLean  County 

the  subject  of  this  sketch;  and  Dr.  Henry  G.,  a  sketch  of  whom  appears 
elsewhere  in  this  volume,  a  dentist,  at  the  Soldiers  Orphans  Home,  Nor- 
mal, 111. 

Dr.  Ferdinand  C.  McCormick  attended  the  public  schools  of  Normal 
and  was  graduated  from  the  high  school  in  1895.  His  professional  train- 
ing was  acquired  in  Northwestern  University  at  Evanston,  111.,  and  after 
his  graduation  there  in  1899  he  began  to  practice  in  Normal,  where  he 
has  been  very  successful.  With  characteristic  progressiveness  Dr.  Mc- 
Cormick was  unable  to  rest  upon  what  he  already  had  acquired,  and  after 
four  years  took  a  post-graduate  course  in  the  medical  department  of  the 
University  of  Michigan,  graduating  in  the  class  of  1904. 

At  Belleville,  111.,  on  Oct.  2,  1901,  Dr.  McCormick  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Estelle  Baker,  who  was  born  in  St.  Louis,  Sept.  6,  1875, 
the  daughter  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Joseph  Baker,  the  former  a  native  of  New 
Orleans,  La.,  and  the  latter  of  Pennsylvania. 

In  politics  Dr.  McCormick  is  a  Republican.  He  is  variously  connected 
with  the  professional  and  social  life  of  the  community  and  fraternally  is 
a  member  of  the  Masonic  Lodge,  and  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fel- 
lows. During  the  World  War  Dr.  McCormick  was  a  government  examin- 
ing physician  and  was  stationed  at  Bloomington.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  and  is  a  citizen  of  high  standard. 


Allen  Brown,  who  lives  retired  at  Normal,  is  the  owner  of  1,500  acres 
of  well-improved  land,  and  a  member  of  one  of  McLean  County's  oldest 
and  most  prominent  pioneer  families.  He  was  born  on  a  farm  in  Taze- 
well County,  111.,  March  16,  1857,  and  is  a  son  of  Joshua  and  Julia  A. 
(Cook)  Brown. 

Joshua  Brown  was  born  in  Lancaster  County,  Pa.,  Aug.  11,  1809,  the 
son  of  William  and  Rachael  (Milner)  Brown.  The  Brown  family  came  to 
Illinois  in  1828  and  settled  on  a  farm  in  Tazewell  County,  where  they  re- 
mained until  1867,  at  which  time  they  moved  to  McLean  County.  Joshua 
Brown  was  a  successful  farmer  of  Blue  Mound  Township  for  many  years 
and  died  in  1897  at  Lafayette,  Ind.  Hi  sfather  was  a  member  of  the 
State  Legislature  in  1834.  Julia  A.  (Cook)  Brown  was  a  native  of  Lan- 
caster County,  Pa.,  born  in  1822,  and  she  died  in  1914.  Four  children 
were  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Brown,  as  follows:     Allen,  the  subject  of  this 


History  of  McLean  County  543 

sketch;  Milner,  lives  at  Des  Moines,  Iowa;  Charles,  lives  at  Anchor,  111.; 
and  Susan,  married  Charles  E.  Welch,  lives  at  Lafayette,  Ind. 

Allen  Brown  grew  up  on  his  father's  farm  and  was  educated  in  the 
public  and  high  schools  of  Normal.  He  then  engaged  in  farming  on  the 
home  place  which  he  inherited.  He  later  purchased  more  land  from  time 
to  time  until  he  now  owns  1,500  acres.  Mr.  Brown  has  been  unusually 
successful  in  the  feeding  of  stock  and  is  well  known  throughout  the 
county.    He  has  lived  at  Normal  since  1899,  but  still  owns  his  farms. 

In  1884  Mr.  Brown  was  married  the  first  time  to  Miss  Anna  Suther- 
land, a  native  of  New  York,  and  the  daughter  of  Samuel  Wilbur  and 
Mary  H.  (Rider)  Sutherland,  natives  of  Chatham  Center,  N.  Y.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Sutherland  were  the  parents  of  four  children,  as  follows:  Anna 
Brown;  Edward  W.,  lives  at  Bloomington;  John  C,  lives  at  Chillicothe, 
Mo. ;  and  Alice  M.  Brown.  Mrs.  Brown  died  in  1894,  leaving  four  chil- 
dren, as  follows:  Florence,  deceased;  Edward  S.,  a  farmer,  lives  in  Blue 
Mound  Township,  McLean  County;  Clifford  A.,  a  farmer,  lives  at  Anchor, 
111. ;  and  Helen,  at  home.  Mr.  Brown  was  married  the  second  time  on 
Aug.  1,  1914,  to  Miss  Alice  M.  Sutherland,  a  sister  of  his  first  wife.  No 
children  have  been  born  to  this  union. 

Mr.  Brown  is  a  Republican  and  a  member  of  the  Quaker  Church.  He 
is  a  progressive  man  and  is  held  in  high  esteem  throughout  the  county. 


Fred  W.  Goff,  landscape  gardener  and  police  magistrate  of  Normal, 
is  an  enterprising  and  progressive  citizen  of  McLean  County.  He  was 
born  at  Danville,  111.,  Feb.  22,  1879,  and  is  the  son  of  Henry  W.  and  La- 
vinia  (Arnett)  Goff. 

The  Goff  family  came  from  Pennsylvania.  Henry  W.  Goff  was  born 
at  Towanda,  Pa.,  and  his  wife  was  a  native  of  Delaware  Water  Gap,  Pa. 
They  came  to  Illinois  in  1877  and  five  years  later  settled  at  Normal,  where 
Mr.  Goff  worked  at  his  trade  as  blacksmith.  He  has  served  as  justice  of 
the  peace  for  16  years  and  now  lives  retired.  His  wife  died  in  1920.  There 
were  two  children  in  the  Goff  family,  as  follows:  William,  supply  and 
repair  foreman  for  the  Rue  Motor  Company  at  Normal;  and  Fred  W., 
the  subject  of  this  sketch. 

Fred  W.  Goff  was  educated  in  the  public  and  high  schools  of  Normal 
and  has  always  been  intensely  interested  in  the  nursery  business.     His 


544  History  of  McLean  County 

first  position  was  as  secretary  of  the  Phoenix  Nursery  Company  of  Bloom- 
ington,  where  he  remained  until  1914.  He  then  was  appointed  office  man- 
ager of  the  Corn  Belt  Nursery  and  Forestry  Association  of  Bloomington. 
In  1919  he  took  charge  of  the  landscape  department  of  the  Augustine 
Nursery  of  Normal,  which  position  he  now  holds. 

In  May,  1898,  Mr.  Goff  enlisted  for  service  in  the  Spanish- American 
War  and  served  in  Company  D,  5th  Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry  through- 
out the  war  as  corporal.  He  was  discharged  on  Oct.  25,  1898,  and  then 
returned  to  Illinois. 

On  Feb.  22,  1900,  Mr.  Goff  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Mar- 
garet Blanchfield,  a  native  of  Chenoa,  111.,  and  the  daughter  of  Thomas 
and  Anna  Blanchfield,  residents  of  Chenoa.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Goff  have 
been  born  two  children,  as  follows:  George  Wallace,  born  in  1910;  and 
James,  born  in  1912. 

Mr.  Goff  was  elected  police  magistrate  of  Normal  in  1916  and  is  now 
serving  his  second  term  in  that  office.  He  is  a  Republican,  a  member  of 
the  Presbyterian  Church,  and  belongs  to  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  Amer- 
ica, the  Yeoman  Lodge,  and  the  Redmen.  He  is  senior  vice-commander  of 
the  United  Spanish  War  Veterans.  Mr.  Goff  is  one  of  the  substantial 
members  of  his  community  and  has  a  host  of  friends. 


The  Families  of  James  and  Rachel  Porter. — James  Porter  was  a  son 
of  Vear  and  Eleanor  (McHarry)  Porter,  the  former  a  native  of  Killy- 
leagh,  County  Down,  Ireland,  and  the  latter  of  Welch  descent.  They  came 
to  the  United  States  in  1808  and  settled  on  a  farm  in  Washington  County, 
Pa.  They  were  the  parents  of  nine  children,  as  follows:  William,  born 
1795,  at  Killyleagh,  probably  died  in  infancy;  Margaret,  born  at  Killy- 
leagh,  June  4,  1796,  married  Anger  Dobbs,  in  Pennsylvania;  Jane,  born 
at  Killyleagh,  Oct.  1,  1798,  came  with  parents  to  America,  unmarried; 
William,  born  at  Killyleagh,  Feb.  19,  1803,  died  on  board  ship  coming 
over;  Richard  M.,  born  April  18,  1806,  in  Washington  County,  Pa.,  mar- 
ried Sophia  Roberts,  March  20,  1828,  moved  to  Iowa  in  1841,  was  a  farmer; 
Elizabeth,  born  in  Washington  County,  Pa.,  Feb.  2,  1808,  married  John 
Wilson,  April  5,  1827,  had  two  sons,  Samuel  and  Vear  Porter,  settled  in 
Kansas;  Daniel  H.,  born  in  Washington  County,  Aug.  19,  1811,  married 
Martha  Young,   died   in  McLean   Countj^   111.     Their   son   Vear   died  in 


^"Vrs 


History  of  McLean  County  545 

Pennsylvania;  James,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  born  in  Washington 
County,  Feb.  12,  1813,  married  Rachel  Stockdale  in  1838,  and  they  moved 
to  McLean  County,  111.,  in  November,  1854 ;  and  Cassandra,  born  in  Wash- 
ington County,  June  26,  1815,  married  Harvey  Applegate,  died  in  Alle- 
gheny County,  Pa.,  no  children. 

Rachel  Stockdale  was  a  daughter  of  William  and  Jane  Stockdale  of 
Downpatrick,  County  Down,  Ireland.  Her  parents  came  to  this  county  in 
1811,  settling  soon  after  on  a  farm  in  Washington  County,  Pa.,  near 
Monongahela.  William  Stockdale  was  a  son  of  John  and  Rachel  (Phillips) 
Stockdale,  both  of  whom  were  of  English  descent.  Jane  Stockdale's 
maiden  name  was  Jane  McNown.  Her  mother's  maiden  name  was  Sallie 
Hunter.  William  and  Jane  Stockdale  were  the  parents  of  ten  children, 
all  of  whom  were  born  in  Washington  County,  Pa.,  as  follows:  Sarah, 
married  Samuel  Morgan  of  Washington  County,  no  children;  John,  mar- 
ried Margaret  Curry,  came  to  Heyworth,  111.,  about  1856.  He  was  a 
farmer.  They  had  two  sons  and  one  daughter;  Richard,  married  Lavina 
Hoffman,  had  five  sons.  He  owned  a  tannery  and  lived  in  Monongahela, 
Pa.  He  died  in  1889;  Rachel,  married  James  Porter  in  1838,  moved  to 
Bloomington,  and  they  had  four  sons  and  five  daughters;  Margaret,  mar- 
ried James  Kerr,  had  two  daughters.  She  died  in  1905;  James,  farmer, 
married  Elizabeth  Young,  died  in  1891,  no  children;  William,  cabinet  maker, 
lived  in  Monongahela  City,  Pa.,  unmarried;  Eliza,  married  Robert  Pat- 
ton,  lived  in  Washington  County,  Pa.  They  had  two  sons  and  two  daugh- 
ters ;  Forbes,  married  William  Coulter,  lived  in  Monongahela  City,  had 
one  son  and  three  daughters;  and  Robert,  unmarried,  lived  in  Washing- 
ton County,  Pa.  He  died  in  1872.  Rachel  (Stockdale)  Porter,  the  last 
survivor  of  this  family,  died  Feb.  9,  1911.  She  was  born  June  24,  1817, 
and  was  in  her  94th  year  at  the  time  of  her  death. 

James  Porter  was  married  to  Rachel  Stockdale  in  Washington  County, 
Pa.,  in  1838.  They  spent  16  years  engaged  in  farming  in  that  county, 
near  Monongahela.  In  1854  the  family  moved  to  Illinois,  coming  to  Chi- 
cago by  train  and  to  Bloomington  on  the  Chicago  and  Alton  railroad.  In 
aljout  two  years  they  moved  to  a  farm  seven  miles  southeast  of  Bloom- 
ington, in  Old  Town  Township,  on  the  Ireland  Grove  road;  a  part  of  tne 
family  moved  to  Bloomington  in  1865. 

To  James  and  Rachel  (Stockdale)  Porter  nine  children  were  born, 
as  follows :  William  Harvey,  born  in  Washington  County,  Pa.,  married 
Amanda  Rodman  in  1866.     He  followed  farming  for  a  number  of  years 

(33) 


546  History  of  McLean  County 

and  is  now  living  in  LeRoy.  They  have  four  children  living:  Nellie,  a 
teacher  in  the  Champaign,  111.,  graded  school;  Frank  L.,  living  in  Cham- 
paign, 111.,  has  one  son,  Frederick;  Lida  W.,  wife  of  Samuel  Stephens,  Po- 
tomac, 111. ;  Harriet  C,  wife  of  Chas.  E.  Cowden,  Downs,  111.,  three  chil- 
dren, Earl,  Rachel  and  Raymond;  Ellen,  born  in  Washington  County,  Pa., 
married  the  Rev.  J.  V.  W.  Baumann,  who  died  in  1867.  He  was  pastor 
of  Methodist  Episcopal  churches  in  Danville,  Paxton  and  Mattoon.  There 
were  two  children :  Charlotte,  who  died  when  a  child,  and  Rachel,  gradu- 
ated from"  the  Illinois  Wesleyan  University  in  1888,  and  from  the  Moses 
True  Brown  School  of  Expression  in  Boston,  married  Lewis  C.  Green- 
lee, of  Denver,  Colo.,  in  1902.  She  now  lives  in  Denver  and  is  active  in 
Philanthropic  and  literary  work.  Ellen  (Porter)  Bauman  after  the  death 
of  her  husband  returned  to  Bloomington.  As  a  member  of  the  First  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  Church  she  was  for  years  president  of  the  Woman's  For- 
eign Missionary  Society  and  also  of  the  Ladies'  Aid  Society.  She  died 
in  1912  in  Denver  at  the  home  of  her  daughter,  Mrs.  L.  C.  Greenlee; 
Jane,  born  in  Washington  County,  Pa.,  lived  on  the  farm  until  1896  when 
she  took  up  her  residence  at  the  family  home,  407  E.  Front  Street,  Bloom- 
ington, 111.  She  died  in  1908 ;  James  Vear,  born  in  Washington  County, 
Pa.,  married  Elizabeth  Armstrong.  He  died  in  1904.  They  were  the 
parents  of  two  children:  William  S.  Porter,  who  served  in  the  Spanish- 
American  War,  died  in  1909,  and  Isabella  W.,  who  managed  the  farm  after 
her  father's  death,  died  in  1915 ;  Robert  Biddle,  born  in  Washington 
County,  Pa.,  graduated  from  Illinois  Wesleyan  University  in  1871.  He 
read  law  in  the  office  of  Bloomfield  &  Fifer,  took  the  state  examination 
at  Ottawa  in  1874  and  was  until  his  death  in  1894  a  member  of  the  Mc- 
Lean County  bar.  In  1876  he  married  Minnie  Howe.  In  1889  he  became 
the  law  partner  of  Hon.  I.  N.  Phillips  and  in  1892  became  the  head  of 
the  firm  of  Porter  &  Potter.  He  was  States  Attorney  from  1880  to  1884, 
a  member  of  the  board  of  education  from  1887  until  the  time  of  his 
death.  He  was  Grand  Master  of  the  Exchequer  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias, 
being  a  member  of  the  Damon  Lodge.  He  was  also  a  member  of  Re- 
membrance Lodge  No.  17,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  and  the  Wade  Barney  Lodge,  A.  E,. 
&  A.  M.  He  had  a  fine  taste  for  literature  and  was  an  active  member  of 
the  College  Men's  Club  and  the  Longfellow  Club;  Cassie  V.,  born  in  Wash- 
ington County,  Pa.,  graduated  from  the  Bloomington  High  School  in  1873. 
For  43  years  she  was  a  teacher  in  our  public  schools,  doing  most  of  her 
teaching  at  the  Jefferson  and  Irving  schools.     In  1916  she  resigned  her 


History  of  McLean  County  547 

position  at  Irving  school  and  now  lives  at  the  family  home  in  this  city, 
interested  in  house  and  farm  management ;  George  Lawrence,  born  in  Wash- 
ington County,  Pa.,  in  1852,  died  in  1909.  When  his  parents  moved  to 
Bloomington  to  live,  he  remained  at  the  farm  in  Old  Town  Township, 
with  his  sister,  Jane,  as  housekeeper.  In  1895  he  married  Louise  K.  Stautz 
and  in  1896  moved  to  Bloomington,  purchasing  a  home  at  612  East  Wash- 
ington Street.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Damon  Lodge  of  Knights  of 
Pythias,  the  Modern  Woodmen,  the  Elks  and  the  Masons.  Their  daugh- 
ter, Barbara  L.,  was  graduated  from  the  University  of  Illinois  in  1921. 
She  is  now  teaching  Spanish  in  the  Arsenal  Technical  High  School,  In- 
dianapolis, Ind. ;  Lyde  R.,  born  in  Bloomington,  was  graduated  from  the 
Bloomington  High  School  in  1874,  and  afterwards  attended  the  Illinois 
Wesleyan  University.  For  40  years  she  taught  in  the  schools  of  McLean 
County,  most  of  the  time  in  Franklin  school  and  the  Wesleyan.  From 
1890  to  1912  she  taught  English  and  history  in  the  Academy  of  the 
Wesleyan,  and  from  1912  to  1915  college  freshman  English.  In  1915  she 
resigned  her  position  as  teacher  to  take  up  household  and  farm  manage- 
ment; Sarah,  born  in  Bloomington,  was  graduated  from  the  Bloomington 
High  School  in  1877.  She  taught  in  the  grade  schools  of  Bloomington  for 
20  years,  closing  her  work  in  this  city  as  principal  of  Franklin  school. 
In  1897  she  was  appointed  to  a  position  in  the  Chicago  grade  schools, 
teaching  successively  at  Chase,  Alcott  and  Adams  schools.  Her  work 
in  the  Italian  district  made  her  see  the  importance  of  Americanizing  the 
foreign  element  and  she  gave  her  whole  heart  to  the  work  of  instilling 
patriotism  in  her  pupils.     She  died  in  Chicago  in  1916. 


Bert  Marley  Kuhn,  capitalist  and  representative  business  man  of 
Bloomington,  was  born  at  Red  Wing,  Minn.,  April  16,  1858,  and  is  the 
son  of  Jacob  A.  Kuhn.  Jacob  A.  Kuhn  was  connected  with  the  educa- 
tional and  commercial  interests  of  McLean  County  for  many  years  and 
was  widely  known. 

Bert  Marley  Kuhn  has  been  a  resident  of  McLean  County  since  he 
was  one  year  old,  his  parents  having  moved  here  at  that  time.  He  re- 
ceived his  education  in  the  public  schools  of  Hudson  and  Normal,  being 
graduated  from  high  school  in  1879.  After  teaching  school  for  one  year 
at  Yuton,  in  McLean  County,  he  introduced  a  patent  he  had  been  work- 


548  History  of  McLean  County 

ing  on,  known  as  the  "Climax  Tailor  System,"  which  has  since  been  used 
extensively  throughout  the  country  by  dressmakers.  Mr.  Kuhn  traveled 
for  three  years  introducing  his  system  of  dress  cutting.  This  enterprise 
met  with  success  and  through  wise  investments  he  has  become  one  of  the 
successful  men  of  McLean  County.  He  has  always  been  greatly  interested 
in  real  estate  and  is  a  large  property  owner  in  Bloomington  and  Normal. 
Through  his  numerous  building  activities  he  has  furnished  employment 
to  a  large  force  of  workmen.  He  is  a  stockholder  in  a  number  of  corpo- 
rations and  at  one  time  was  sole  owner  of  the  Lincoln  Street  Railway. 

In  May,  1896,  Mr.  Kuhn  was  appointed  by  Governor  Tanner  as  treas- 
urer of  the  Soldiers  Orphans  Home  at  Normal  and  during  his  term  of 
office  handled  $75,000  annually  for  the  institution.  He  has  served  as 
trustee  of  the  Deaconess  Hospital  at  Bloomington. 

On  June  7,  1883,  Mr.  Kuhn  was  married  to  Miss  Alice  E.  Squier,  a 
native  of  Calhoun  County,  111.,  and  a  daughter  of  Ashur  G.  Squier.  Mr. 
Squier  was  a  pioneer  settler  of  Calhoun  County,  111.,  and  a  prominent 
farmer  for  many  years.  Mrs.  Kuhn  is  a  graduate  of  Illinois  State  Nor- 
mal University.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kuhn  three  children  were  born  as  fol- 
lows:    Louis  S.,  Waldo  A.,  and  Nellie. 

Mr.  Kuhn  is  a  member  of  the  First  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  and 
belongs  to  the  Masonic  Lodge.  He  is  one  of  the  highly  esteemed  and  influ- 
ential citizens  of  McLean  County,  a  man  who  in  business  and  as  a  private 
individual  manifests  a  keen  and  intense  appreciation  of  all  that  pertains 
to  the  welfare  of  the  city  and  its  citizens. 


August  Fissel,  dealer  in  grain  and  feed,  is  a  well  known  business  man 
of  Normal.  He  was  born  in  Bloomington,  Nov.  6,  1871,  and  is  the  son  of 
August  and  Wilhelmina  (Mahnacke)  Fissel. 

August  Fissel,  Sr.,  wa  a  native  of  Saxony,  Germany,  born  in  March, 
1841.  He  came  to  the  United  States  in  1861  and  worked  at  his  trade  as 
baker  in  New  York,  making  "hard  tack"  for  the  soldiers  at  Governor's 
Island.  After  six  months  there  he  began  traveling  and  went  all  over  the 
country  from  Minnesota  to  New  Orleans.  While  in  St.  Louis  he  worked 
as  a  steamboat  cook  and  made  a  trip  to  St.  Joseph,  Mo.,  on  the  Missouri 
River.  While  working  in  St.  Louis  he  was  employed  by  a  man  from 
Bloomington  and  came  here  to  work  in  the  bakery  shop  of  A.  M.  Sibel  on 


History  of  McLean  County  549 

W.  Chestnut  Street.  In  1875  he  went  into  business  for  himself  at  Normal, 
where  he  remained  until  the  time  of  his  death  in  1913.  His  wife,  a  native 
of  Prussia,  born  June  6,  1845,  died  in  1915.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Fissel  were  the 
parents  of  nine  children,  seven  of  whom  are  now  living. 

August  Fissel,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  received  his  education  in 
the  public  schools  of  Normal,  and  has  always  lived  at  Normal.  He  was  in 
the  employ  of  the  city  pump  works  of  Normal  for  a  number  of  years  and 
in  1909  purchased  his  brother's  feed  store,  which  he  has  since  operated. 
Mr.  Fissel  owns  one-third  of  the  old  home  place  of  24  acres  and  also  sev- 
eral pieces  of  city  property  in  Normal. 

In  1906  Mr.  Fissel  was  married  to  Miss  Emma  Schrieber,  a  native  of 
Cincinnati,  Ohio,  and  to  this  union  one  child  has  been  born,  Herman,  who 
is  in  business  with  his  father. 

Mr.  Fissel  is  identified  with  the  Republican  party  in  politics  and  is  a 
member  of  the  Reformed  Evangelical  Church.  He  is  one  of  the  enter- 
prising and  substantial  citizens  of  McLean  County. 


George  Champion,  retired  hardware  merchant  of  Normal,  is  a  vet- 
eran of  the  Civil  War  and  a  highly  respected  citizen  of  McLean  County. 
He  was  born  in  Bristol,  England,  Feb.  24,  1840,  the  son  of  George  and 
Eleanor  (Ellis)  Champion. 

George  Champion,  Sr.,  was  a  seaman  and  died  on  the  coast  of  Africa 
in  1843.  His  wife  brought  her  three  children  to  the  United  States  in 
1854  and  settled  in  Kane  County,  111.  She  died  at  Elgin,  111.  To  George 
and  Eleanor  (Ellis)  Champion  three  children  were  born,  as  follows:  Thomas 
E.,  lives  retired  at  Normal,  a  sketch  of  whom  appears  in  this  volume; 
George,  the  subject  of  this  sketch;  and  Athaliah  Victoria  Bright,  who 
lives  with  her  brother,  George. 

George  Champion  was  educated  in  the  schools  of  England  and  was 
graduated  from  a  military  school  there.  After  coming  to  this  country 
he  became  an  apprentice  to  a  wagon  maker,  but  in  a  few  years  learned 
the  carpenter  trade  and  also  the  machinist  trade.  In  June,  1862,  Mr. 
Champion  enlisted  for  service  during  the  Civil  War  and  served  with  Com- 
pany B,  69th  Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry.  After  the  war  he  was  employed 
by  the  Chicago  and  Northwestern  Railroad  as  a  machinist  and  in  1867 
he  came  to  Normal,  where  he  engaged  in  the  hardware  business  with  his 


550  History  of  McLean  County 

brother,  Thomas.  In  1875  Mr.  Champion  bought  his  brother's  interest 
in  the  business,  which  he  continued  to  conduct  successfully  until  1906, 
at  which  time  he  sold  the  business.  He  then  built  a  large  brick  building 
on  Beaufort  and  Linden  Streets  in  Normal,  which  he  later  exchanged  for 
260  acres  of  well-improved  land  in  Lee  County,  111.  Mr.  Champion  also 
owns  160  acres  of  land  in  Cropsey  Township,  McLean  County,  and  he  is 
trustee  for  an  estate  of  1,600  acres  of  land  in  Illinois. 

On  Jan.  6,  1869,  Mr.  Champion  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Hattie  Baker,  a  native  of  Peoria  County,  111.,  born  Dec.  5,  1847,  and  she 
died  Dec.  16,  1898.  To  this  union  five  children  were  born,  as  follows :  Ger- 
trude B.,  married  James  Wilson,  lives  at  Pasadena,  Calif. ;  George,  de- 
ceased, was  the  husband  of  Emily  Moore,  lives  at  San  Diego,  Calif. ;  Ralph 
Ellis,  deceased;  Frank,  lives  in  California;  and  Myrtle,  married  Earl 
Bowles,  lives  at  Mt.  Sterling,  Ohio.  George  Champion  was  married  the 
second  time  to  Miss  Hannah  E.  McKnight,  who  died  March  5,  1908,  and 
on  Aug.  9,  1911,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Mary  W.  Huxtable,  a  native  of 
Orange,  Mass.,  born  Sept.  13,  1865. 

Mr.  Champion  is  a  Republican,  served  as  mayor  of  Normal  for  three 
years,  as  alderman  for  two  years,  as  city  treasurer  for  three  years,  as  city 
clerk  for  two  years,  as  township  clerk  for  four  years,  and  as  supervisor 
of  Normal  Township  for  seven  years.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic 
Lodge,  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic,  and  has  held  the  office  of  post 
commander  of  the  latter  organization  for  20  years.  Mr.  Champion  has 
held  every  office  in  the  Masonic  Lodge  and  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist 
Church.  He  is  a  reliable  citizen  of  his  community,  a  man  who  believes  in 
progressive  movements  both  in  his  work  and  in  civic  affairs. 


Albert  Bischoff,  a  well-known  and  successful  merchant  of  Normal, 
is  a  native  of  Bloomington.  He  was  born  July  7,  1885,  and  is  the  son  of 
Albert  and  Julia  (More)  Bischoff. 

Albert  Bischoff,  Sr.,  came  to  the  United  States  from  Dresden,  Ger- 
many, where  he  was  born.  He  was  13  years  old  and  after  arriving  in 
Bloomington  was  employed  by  Colonel  Hefferman  and  several  years  later 
owned  and  conducted  a  saloon,  known  as  the  Merchants  Exchange.  His 
wife  has  lived  at  lllOVk  N.  Center  Street,  Bloomington,  since  the  death 


History  of  McLean  County  551 

of  Mr.  Bischoff  14  years  ago.  They  were  the  parents  of  four  children,  of 
whom  Albert,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  the  oldest. 

Albert  Bischoff,  Jr.,  was  reared  and  educated  in-  Bloomington,  where 
he  has  spent  most  of  his  life.  He  was  employed  in  the  Mormon  Drug 
Company  there  for  four  years  and  later  in  the  grocery  store  of  George 
and  William  Freese.  In  1908  he  managed  the  meat  market  for  Charles 
Grimes  and  six  months  later  entered  the  employ  of  C.  L.  Schneider  at 
Bloomington.  In  1914  Mr.  Bischoff  came  to  Normal  and  was  manager 
of  the  C.  L.  Schneider  meat  market,  and  five  years  later  he  purchased  the 
business,  which  he  now  conducts  on  a  most  satisfactory  and  profitable 
scale. 

In  1909  Mr.  Bischoff  was  married  to  Miss  Maude  Tabor,  a  native  of 
South  Carolina,  and  to  this  union  three  children  have  been  born,  as  fol- 
lows:    Helen,  Julia  and  Charles. 

Mr.  Bischoff  is  a  Republican,  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Church,  and 
belongs  to  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America.  He  is  a  stockholder  in  the 
Gable  Meat  Packing  Company  of  Chicago.  Mr.  Bischoff  is  a  progressive 
business  man  and  is  well  liked  in  Normal  and  the  surrounding  community. 


Enos  I.  Lanter,  chief  of  the  Normal  Fire  Department  and  member  of 
the  police  force,  is  a  native  of  Kentucky.  He  was  born  at  Richmond,  Ky., 
Dec.  30,  1880,  and  is  a  son  of  John  and  Mary  (Parker)  Lanter. 

John  Lanter  was  a  native  of  Orange  County,  Va.,  and  the  son  of  Har- 
vey and  Nancy  (Wright)  Lanter.  The  Lanter  family  went  from  Virginia 
to  Kentucky  in  the  early  days,  where  John  Lanter  engaged  in  general 
farming.  He  died  in  1890  at  the  age  of  38  years  and  his  wife  now  resides 
in  Kentucky.  They  were  the  parents  of  three  children,  as  follows:  Enos 
L,  the  subject  of  this  sketch;  and  Anna,  married  William  Tribble,  lives  in 
Kentucky. 

Enos  I.  Lanter  spent  his  boyhood  on  the  home  place  in  Kentucky  and 
attended  the  public  schools  there.  On  Oct.  4,  1904,  he  came  to  Normal, 
where  he  was  employed  in  the  Chicago  &  Alton  Railroad  shops  for  eight 
months.  He  then  worked  for  Funk  Brothers  Seed  Company  for  six 
months,  and  then  spent  the  next  three  years  in  the  employ  of  the  Port- 
able Elevator  Company  at  Bloomington.  After  working  at  other  various 
occupations  Mr.  Lanter  came  to  Normal  in  1918,  and  was  appointed  on 


552  History  of  McLean  County 

the  police  force,  serving  nights.  Three  months  later  he  was  appointed 
city  fire  chief,  which  office  he  has  since  filled  in  a  capable  and  efficient 
manner. 

On  Dec.  21,  1900,  Mr.  Lanter  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Rosa 
E.  Brookshire,  a  native  of  Clark  County,  Ky.,  and  to  this  union  two  chil- 
dren have  been  born,  R.  Clay,  deceased,  and  Carrie,  lives  at  home. 

Mr.  Lanter  is  a  Republican,  a  member  of  the  Baptist  Church,  and 
belongs  to  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  the  Modern  Woodmen 
of  America,  and  the  Masonic  Lodge.  He  is  well  known  throughout  the 
county  as  a  substantial  citizen. 


Rolla  Basil  Neal,  the  well  known  chief  of  the  fire  department  of 
Bloomington,  is  a  native  of  Illinois.  He  was  born  at  Farmer  City,  May 
24,  1889,  and  is  a  son  of  Minor  B.  and  Mary  Jane  (Weedman)  Neal. 

Minor  B.  Neal  was  born  on  a  farm  near  Farmer  City,  111.,  and  was 
a  policeman  there  for  many  years.  He  is  now  truant  officer  for  the  city 
schools  of  Bloomington,  where  he  lives.  His  wife  died  April  3,  1922,  and 
is  buried  in  Park  Hill  Cemetery.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Neal  had  two  children, 
as  follows:  Rolla  Basil,  the  subject  of  this  sketch;  and  Gladys,  married 
Carl  Lee. 

Rolla  Basil  Neal  was  reared  near  Farmer  City,  111.,  and  attended 
the  public  schools  there  and  also  at  Bloomington,  where  he  was  a  student 
at  the  Brown  Business  College.  His  first  position  was  with  the  Bloom- 
ington fire  department  from  Jan.  10,  1911,  to  Aug.  30,  1913,  when  he 
resigned  and  entered  the  employ  of  the  Union  Gas  Company.  However, 
on  Aug.  1,  1917,  he  returned  to  the  fire  department  and  was  driver  and 
pipeman  at  the  central  engine  house.  On  May  8th,  1923,  Mr.  Neal  was 
elected  chief  of  the  department,  which  office  he  has  since  filled  in  a  most 
capable  and  efficient  manner.  He  is  the  youngest  fire  chief  that  Bloom- 
ington has  ever  had  and  is  perhaps  the  youngest  in  central  Illinois. 

On  Nov.  18,  1912,  Mr.  Neal  was  married  to  Miss  Sarah  Belle  Ornen- 
dorff,  a  daughter  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Richard  Ornendorff,  who  reside  at  1011 
South  Main  Street  in  Bloomington.  Mrs.  Neal  died  Aug.  30,  1923,  and 
is  buried  in  Park  Hill  Cemetery. 

Mr.  Neal  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  Lodge  No.  512  of  Bloom- 
ington, and  he  belongs  to  the  Illinois  State  Firemen's  Association.     He  is 


History  of  McLean  County  553 

one  of  the  enterprising  and  substantial  business   men  of  Bloomington, 
where  he  is  widely  and  favorably  known. 


F.  W.  Westhoff,  professor  of  music  at  the  Illinois  State  Normal  Uni- 
versity, is  one  of  McLean  County's  prominent  citizens.  He  was  born  in 
St.  Charles  County,  Mo.,  June  14,  1863,  the  son  of  Theodore  and  Mary 
Ann  (Roderfeld)  Westhoff. 

Theodore  Westhoff  was  a  native  of  Germany,  as  also  was  his  wife. 
After  their  marriage  they  came  to  the  United  States  and  upon  their  ar- 
rival in  New  Orleans  their  oldest  child  died.  They  settled  in  St.  Charles 
County,  Mo.,  in  1852,  where  Mr.  Westhoff  engaged  in  general  farming 
and  stock  raising.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Westhoff  had  eight  children,  four  of 
whom  are  now  living. 

F.  W.  Westhoff,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  reared  in  St.  Charles 
County,  Mo.,  and  received  his  education  in  the  district  schools  there.  He 
began  his  musical  career  at  the  age  of  eight  years,  when  he  studied  music 
with  an  uncle,  Englebert  Roderfeld,  a  prominent  German  musician  who 
had  come  to  this  country  with  the  Westhoff  family.  Mr.  Westhoff  later 
studied  vocal  music  at  the  Lindenwood  College  under  Emil  Wolf  and  at 
the  age  of  16  years  he  conducted  a  large  choir  in  a  German  Catholic 
church  at  St.  Charles,  Mo.  In  1882  he  went  to  Edwardsville,  111.,  where  he 
studied  piano  under  Prof.  Henry  Wolf.  He  studied  the  cornet  under  Wil- 
lie Schwarz  and  in  1884  Mr.  Westhoff  began  his  orchestra  work  at  De- 
catur, 111.  In  1891  he  was  engaged  as  supervisor  of  music  in  the  Decatur 
schools,  in  which  line  of  work  he  met  with  marked  success.  Professor 
Westhoff  was  called  to  the  Illinois  State  Normal  University  at  Normal  in 
1901  and  since  that  time  has  taught  music  there,  having  four  classes  each 
day,  and  he  also  does  a  great  deal  of  orchestra  and  band  work  and  has 
complete  charge  of  the  glee  clubs. 

On  Oct.  9,  1889,  Professor  Westhoff  was  married  to  Miss  Lonia  Gaeb- 
ler,  a  native  of  Decatur,  111.,  born  April  4,  1862,  and  the  daughter  of  Will- 
iam and  Margaret  (Hughes)  Gaebler,  the  former  a  native  of  Germany 
and  the  latter  of  Ireland.  The  Gaebler  family  came  to  Decatur,  111.,  many 
years  ago,  where  Mr.  Gaebler  was  employed  as  a  stone  mason.  To  Prof. 
F.  W.  and  Lonia  (Gaebler)  W'esthoff  four  children  have  been  born,  as 
follows:     Frank,  foreman  of  the  Beaverboard  Company,  Chicago;  Mar- 


554  History  of  McLean  County 

garet,  supervisor  of  music,  lives  at  home;  Herbert,  died  at  the  age  of  10 
years;  and  Clarence,  city  salesman  for  the  Whitaker  Paper  Company 
of  Chicago. 

Professor  Westhoff  has  written  a  great  deal  of  music  and  also  text- 
books used  in  the  public  schools.  During  the  recent  Illinois  Centennial 
he  wrote  the  piano  music  for  the  story  of  the  pageant  of  Illinois,  the 
words  of  which  were  written  by  Miss  Grace  Arlington  Owen  of 
Bloomington. 

Professor  Westhoff  is  highly  respected  throughout  McLean  County 
and  stands  high  in  musical  circles  throughout  the  state  of  Illinois. 


William  W.  McKnight,  a  prominent  and  successful  business  man  of 
Normal,  was  born  at  Granville,  111.,  Jan.  11,  1874,  and  is  the  son  of  Dr. 
William  and  Sarah  (Moore)  McKnight. 

Dr.  William  McKnight  was  a  native  of  Guernsey  County,  Ohio,  where 
he  was  born  in  1823.  He  was  the  son  of  David  McKnight,  a  pioneer  set- 
tler of  Ohio  from  Pennsylvania,  having  come  there  in  1812.  David  Mc- 
Knight was  a  successful  farmer,  and  his  son,  Dr.  William,  father  of  the 
subject  of  this  sketch,  was  a  prominent  physician  for  many  years.  He 
was  graduated  from  Rush  Medical  College  in  Chicago  and  then  took  up  the 
practice  of  his  profession  at  Granville,  111.,  where  he  remained  for  33 
years.  In  1883  he  brought  his  family  to  Normal  on  account  of  the  school 
advantages  here,  and  practiced  there  for  10  years,  when  he  retired.  Dr. 
McKnight  died  in  1908.  His  first  marriage  was  to  Miss  Henderson,  and 
to  that  union  five  children  were  born,  two  of  whom  are  now  living,  as  fol- 
lows :  Margaret  J.,  the  widow  of  George  M.  Adams,  and  she  is  in  business 
with  her  step-brother,  William  W.,  the  subject  of  this  sketch;  and  Mrs. 
W.  E.  Stansbury,  of  Chicago.  Later,  Dr.  McKnight  was  married  to  Miss 
Sarah  Moore,  who  was  born  in  Granville,  111.,  Sept.  2,  1840,  the  daughter 
of  Shepherd  and  Margaret  (Hawthorne)  Moore.  To  this  union  two  sons 
were  born,  as  follows:  William  W.,  the  subject  of  this  sketch;  and  Jo- 
seph N.,  who  lives  in  Denver,  Colo.  Mrs.  McKnight  died  Nov.  6,  1923, 
and  is  buried  in  Evergreen  City  Cemetery  at  Bloomington. 

William  W.  McKnight  received  his  education  in  the  public  and  high 
schools  of  Normal  and  attended  Illinois  Normal  State  University.  When 
he  was  attending  high  school  in  1891  he  had  charge  of  the  Daily  Panta- 


History  of  McLean  County  555 

graps  subscriptions  and  news  agency  at  Normal.  He  had  charge  of  this 
agency  for  a  period  of  29  years  until  1923.  January,  1895,  he  and  his 
sister,  Hannah  McKnight,  who  later  married  George  Champion,  Sr.,  en- 
tered business  together  at  Normal  under  the  firm  name  of  McKnight  & 
McKnight.  Mrs.  Champion  died  in  1908  and  her  place  in  the  business 
was  taken  by  her  sister  Margaret  J.  Adams.  Mr.  McKnight  has  built  up 
a  splendid  business  in  geographical  publication  and  handles  a  complete 
line  of  school  supplies,  books  and  stationery.  He  does  an  extensive  mail 
order  business  also.  The  firm  has  been  in  the  same  location,  southeast 
corner  of  Broadway  and  North  Streets,  since  starting  in  business  Jan.  1, 
1895,  and  own  the  double  store  building  in  which  they  are  located. 

On  Dec.  25,  1907,  Mr.  McKnight  was  married  to  Miss  Isabel  Travis, 
who  was  born  in  Shelby  County,  111.  She  is  the  daughter  of  the  late  James 
S.  and  Catherine  (Crane)  Travis,  natives  of  Pennsylvania  who  came  to 
Illinois  many  years  ago.  To  William  W.  and  Isabel  (Travis)  McKnight 
one  child  has  been  born,  William  W.,  Jr.,  who  attends  school. 

Mr.  McKnight  is  serving  his  second  term  as  city  treasurer  of  Nor- 
mal and  he  is  treasurer  and  director  of  the  Citizens  Savings,  Loan  & 
Building  Association  of  Normal,  and  a  director  of  the  First  National 
Bank  of  Normal.  He  is  a  Republican,  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church,  and  a  Past  Master  of  Normal  Lodge  No.  673,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.  He 
was  president  of  the  Illinois  Booksellers  and  Stationers  Association  during 
1923-24.    He  is  a  reliable  business  man  and  an  excellent  citizen. 


Glenn  Huffington,  general  contractor  and  builder,  is  a  veteran  of  the 
World  War  and  a  progressive-  young  business  man  of  Normal.  He  was 
born  in  the  city  where  he  now  lives,  March  13,  1892,  and  is  the  son  of 
R.  M.  and  Sarah  W.  (Simshauser)  Huffington. 

R.  M.  Huffington  is  a  native  of  Clark  County,  111.,  and  his  wife  was 
born  in  Bloomington.  Mr.  Huffington  came  to  Normal  in  1883  and  en- 
gaged in  the  contracting  business,  and  became  successful.  He  was  ac- 
tively engaged  in  business  until  1920  when  he  sold  his  business  to  his 
son,  Glenn,  the  subject  of  this  sketch.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Huffington  have  two 
children,   Grace  M.,  lives  in  Indianapolis,   Ind.,  and  Glenn,  our  subject. 

Glenn  Huffington  was  reared  in  Normal  and  attended  the  public  and 
high  schools,  and  later  Illinois  State  Normal  University.     He  has  been  in 


556  History  of  McLean  County 

business  since  completing  his  education  at  Normal,  and  is  among  the  suc- 
cessful young  men  of  his  community.  Mr.  Huffington  carries  a  complete 
line  of  paints  and  building  materials,  and  his  building  activities  are  de- 
voted to  residences  exclusively. 

On  May  8,  1917,  Mr.  Huffington  volunteered  for  service  in  the  World 
War  and  was  assigned  to  the  air  service  as  a  mechanic,  and  stationed  at 
camps  in  Illinois,  Texas  and  Florida.  After  the  close  of  the  war  he  was 
discharged  on  June  18,  1919. 

Mr.  Huffington  was  married  on  March  11,  1922,  to  Miss  Florence  S. 
Snyder,  a  native  of  Cairo,  111.,  and  the  daughter  of  John  and  Jessie  S. 
(Farrin)  Snyder,  the  former  a  native  of  Paris,  111.,  and  the  latter  of  Cairo, 
111.  Mr.  Snyder  is  deceased  and  his  widow  lives  at  Normal.  Before  her 
marriage,  Mrs.  Huffington  taught  kindergarten  from  1919  until  1922. 
During  that  period  she  taught  at  Chats  worth,  111.,  and  at  the  Soldiers' 
Orphans  Home.  Mrs.  Huffington  was  graduated  from  Illinois  State  Nor- 
mal University  in  the  class  of  1918. 

Mr.  Huffington  is  a  Republican,  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Church,  and 
belongs  to  the  Masonic  Lodge. 


Col.  Dudley  Chase  Smith. — A  resident  of  Normal,  but  a  citizen  whose 
interests  outspanned  his  own  town,  or  even  his  own  county  and  state, 
was  Col.  D.  C.  Smith,  who  spent  the  better  part  of  his  long  and  useful 
life  in  McLean  County. 

Born  of  parental  stock  which  had  a  part  in  the  successful  waging 
of  the  Revolutionary  War  for  the  colonies,  Colonel  Smith  was  himself  a 
native  of  Illinois.  His  paternal  grandfather  was  Benjamin  C.  Smith,  a 
Revolutionary  soldier  under  Israel  Putnam.  The  grandfather  was  one  of 
the  early  settlers  of  Vermont.  His  grandmother  was  a  sister  of  Dudley 
Chase,  twice  United  States  senator  from  Vermont,  and  judge  of  the  Su- 
preme Court  of  that  state.  Salmon  P.  Chase,  the  great  secretary  of  the 
treasury  in  Lincoln's  cabinet,  was  a  nephew  of  Senator  Chase,  and  another 
distinguished  relative  was  a  brother  of  the  senator,  Bishop  Philander 
Chase,  well  known  in  the  religious  history  of  the  northwest,  and  founder 
of  Jubilee  College,  near  Peoria. 

Addison  Smith,  father  of  Col.  Smith  of  Normal,  was.  a  student  of 
Dartmouth  and  a  graduate  of  the  University  of  Vermont.    He  afterwards 


History  of  McLean  County  557 

read  law,  and  then  started  out  in  life  for  himself  by  locating  in  Dayton, 
Ohio,  where  he  became  editor  of  the  first  newspaper  in  that  town.  Some- 
time afterward,  he  removed  to  Bloomington,  Ind.,  where  he  was  influential 
in  securing  for  that  city  the  location  of  the  state  university.  While  a 
resident  of  Bloomington,  Addison  Smith  was  married  to  Nancy  Fitzger- 
ald Hicks,  of  Hopkinsville,  Ky. 

Having  suffered  some  financial  reverses,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Addison  Smith 
decided  to  remove  to  Illinois,  and  they  located  in  Shelbyville  in  the  year 
1832,  where  Mr.  Smith  bought  the  land  on  which  the  northern  part  of  the 
town  was  afterward  located. 

Dudley  Chase  Smith  was  born  on  Dec.  9,  1833,  about  a  year  after  his 
parents  had  located  at  Shelbyville.  He  was  the  seventh  child  and  the 
only  son  in  a  family  of  ten  children.  The  home  of  the  family  was  a  log 
house,  much  in  the  prevailing  custom  of  those  times,  and  the  settlement 
where  they  had  their  home  was  a  typical  frontier  place,  the  nearest  town 
of  any  considerable  size  being  Alton,  eighty  miles  away,  where  they  went 
to  market.  In  1846  one  of  the  newcomers  to  Shelbyville  was  Joshua  L. 
Dexter,  who  established  a  store.  He  came  from  Maine,  and  after  he  had 
been  located  at  Shelbyville  for  a  comparatively  short  while  he  was  mar- 
ried to  the  second  daughter  of  Addison  Smith.  After  this,  he  took  Dud- 
ley Smith  into  his  store  as  a  clerk  and  collector.  In  this  position,  young 
Smith  received  valued  instruction  from  Samuel  W.  Moulton,  who  had 
come  from  Salem,  Mass.,  and  who  arose  to  a  position  of  influence  in  Illi- 
nois, being  member  of  the  Legislature.  Mr.  Moulton  showed  young  Smith, 
how  to  draw  up  forms  of  legal  papers,  such  as  notes,  deeds  and  mortgages. 
In  1855  Mr.  Moulton  became  the  author  of  the  bill  which  was  enacted  as 
the  free  school  law  of  Illinois,  and  which  two  years  later  resulted  in  the 
founding  of  the  Normal  University.  Naturally,  Mr.  Moulton  was  named 
as  member  of  the  first  governing  board  of  that  institution,  a  position 
which  he  occupied  for  twenty-five  years. 

In  1851,  his  employer,  Mr.  Dexter,  persuaded  Dudley  Smith  to  spend 
a  year  in  Jubilee  College,  and  the  next  year,  at  the  age  of  19,  young  Smith 
was  taken  into  the  Dexter  store  as  a  partner.  The  firm  grew  in  prestige 
and  its  trade  was  prosperous,  having  attracted  customers  from  distances 
of  twenty  miles  or  more  from  the  town.  On  the  death  of  Mr.  Dexter,  the 
firm  became  Roundy,  Lufkin  &  Smith,  all  being  brothers-in-law  of  Mr. 
Dexter. 

By  the  time  Dudley  Smith  was  27  years  of  age,  the  Civil  War  came 


558  History  of  McLean  County 

on,  and  he  dismissed  his  plans  for  a  commercial  career  to  enlist  in  the 
army.  He  was  mustered  in  under  the  first  call  for  troops,  as  a  member  of 
Company  B  of  the  14th  Illinois.  Soon  after  his  mustering  in,  he  was 
chosen  a  lieutenant,  and  had  that  rank  when  he  went  into  the  battle  of 
Shiloh  in  1862  and  was  severely  wounded.  He  went  home  to  recuperate, 
but  returned  to  his  company  as  soon  as  possible  and  was  made  captain. 
In  1863,  the  death  of  his  only  remaining  partner,  Mr.  Lufkin,  compelled 
him  to  return  to  Shelbyville  to  settle  up  the  business  of  the  firm. 

After  settling  the  estate,  Captain  Smith  again  volunteered  and  raised 
a  regiment,  of  which  he  became  colonel.  This  was  the  143d  Illinois,  which 
took  part  in  the  later  campaigns  of  the  war  and  continued  in  active  serv- 
ice until  the  end  of  the  war. 

Returning  to  Shelbyville  after  the  close  of  the  war,  Colonel  Smith 
retained  his  business  interests  there  until  1870,  when  he  sold  them  out 
and  came  to  live  in  Normal,  where  his  sister,  Mrs.  Lufkin,  had  preceded 
him.  It  was  at  this  period  of  his  life  that  he  sought  in  travel  the  broaden- 
ing of  his  mind  and  experience  which  had  been  denied  him  because  of  his 
limited  book  education  in  his  boyhood.  He  spent  much  time  for  the  next 
few  years  in  visiting  parts  of  Central  and  South  America,  twice  went  to 
Europe  and  also  made  a  trip  to  Alaska.  Once  after  having  visited  the  far 
west,  he  returned  home  just  when  the  last  stretches  of  the  Union  Pacific 
Railroad  were  being  laid. 

One  of  the  friendships  formed  by  Colonel  Smith  during  the  Civil 
War  was  with  John  P.  St.  John,  lieutenant-colonel  of  the  14th  Illinois. 
Lieutenant-Colonel  St.  John  later  becoming  prohibition  governor  of 
Kansas. 

Colonel  Smith  was  married  on  Jan.  2,  1885,  to  Miss  Bernardine  Orme, 
daughter  of  Gen.  William  W.  Orme,  a  prominent  veteran  of  the  Civil  War 
and  a  lawyer  in  Bloomington.  Col.  and  Mrs.  Smith  became  the  parents  of 
seven  children,  all  of  whom  are  now  living. 

One  of  the  dominant  characteristics  of  Colonel  Smith's  life  was  his 
generous  disposition  toward  all  good  causes  and  institutions.  He  had 
never  aspired  to  public  office  or  political  position  of  any  kind,  and  re- 
marked once  that  the  superintendency  of  a  Sunday  school  was  the  only 
elective  position  that  he  ever  held.  This  was  in  the  Presbyterian  Church 
at  Shelbyville,  in  which  church  he  erected  a  memorial  window  in  honor 
of  his  mother.  While  Colonel  Smith  affiliated  with  the  Presbyterian 
Church  during  his  residence  in  this  community,  he  never  confined  his  in- 


History  of  McLean  County  559 

terest  to  his  own  denomination.  One  of  the  public  and  humanitarian 
causes  to  which  he  gave  time  and  interest  for  many  years  was  the  McLean 
County  Tuberculosis  Society,  of  which  he  was  long  president.  This  so- 
ciety sponsored  the  present  Fairview  Sanatorium.  Colonel  Smith  was  a 
liberal  donor  to  many  educational  institutions  and  young  people  had 
cause  to  thank  him  for  his  benefactions.  Always  a  student  and  close 
reader,  Colonel  Smith  had  acquired  a  large  private  library  to  which  he 
devoted  his  hours  of  leisure.  In  politics,  Colonel  Smith  was  a  Republican, 
but  an  independent  and  patriotic  one  who  thought  of  his  country's  inter- 
ests as  above  party  interests.  One  of  the  tributes  paid  to  the  memory  of 
Colonel  Smith  was  the  following  expression  from  President  David  Felm- 
ley  of  the  Normal  University:  "In  the  death  of  Col.  Dudley  Chase  Smith, 
which  occurred  on  May  22,  1920,  this  community  lost  a  man  who  for  more 
than  a  half  century  had  been  one  of  its  most  prominent  and  highly  re- 
spected citizens.  Although  he  had  not  held  public  office,  or  engaged  in 
active  business  during  his  period,  he  was  widely  known  throughout  the 
state  and  beyond  its  borders  because  of  his  uprightness  of  character, 
his  extensive  knowledge  of  men  and  affairs,  his  interest  in  the  public 
welfare,  and  his  liberal  contributions  to  causes  for  promoting  human  bet- 
terment. His  story  is  the  story  so  frequently  found  in  America,  the  land 
of  opportunity,  the  story  of  a  youth  of  slender  resources  rising  to  afflu- 
ence and  a  commanding  position  by  virtue  of  his  pluck,  his  strength  of 
purpose  and  sterling  character." 

Editorially,  the  Daily  Pantagraph  said  of  Col.  Smith  the  day  after 
his  death:  "Of  Col.  Smith  it  can  never  be  said  that  he  outlived  his  use- 
fulness. His  geniality,  kindness,  generosity  and  wise  counsel  will  be 
sadly  missed.  Col.  Smith's  life  was  and  will  continue  to  be  an  inspiration. 
He  was  an  American  in  all  that  great  word  implies.  Possessed  of  an 
unusual  business  sense,  he  accumulated  a  large  fortune,  which  to  him, 
however,  was  only  an  instrument  through  which  he  was  enabled  the  better 
to  serve  humanity.  No  man  thought  less  of  money  as  mere  material 
wealth  than  did  Col.  Smith.  He  lived  simply,  and  ostentation  was  repul- 
sive to  him.  Accepting  the  opportunities  of  free  America,  Col.  Smith 
throughout  his  long  life  never  forgot  the  obligations  to  his  country  which 
every  American  owes,  but  "all  too  many  fail  to  recognize.  As  a  young 
man  he  fought  to  preserve  the  Union  in  the  civil  war,  and  rose  to  high 
rank  in  the  service  of  his  country.  Thereafter  as  an  always  loyal  mem- 
ber of  the  party  which  preserved  the  union,  he  continued  to  serve,  al- 


560  History  of  McLean  County 

though  always  in  the  ranks.  He  possessed  all  the  qualifications  of  the 
ideal  public  servant,  and  might  have  gone  far  in  public  life  had  he  so 
desired.  When  the  United  States  became  involved  in  the  World  war,  Col. 
Smith  fought  as  effectively,  although  by  force  of  circumstances  not  in  the 
same  way  as  he  fought  in  the  Civil  War.  He  and  his  entire  family  were 
leaders  in  all  war  activities,  with  an  only  son  in  the  army  and  a  daugh- 
ter just  behind  the  lines  and  under  fire  in  France  caring  for  those 
wounded  in  action.  Thus  was  the  example  of  the  father  followed  unim- 
paired in  the  second  generation.  *  *  *  As  an  American  who  stood 
ever  ready  to  give  his  all  for  his  country  should  the  occasion  require;  as 
a  citizen  who  held  always  in  mind  the  welfare  of  his  community;  as  the 
loving  husband  and  father;  as  the  loyal  friend  and  unerring  counsellor, 
Col.  D.  C.  Smith  will  live  in  memory  as  an  ideal  for  present  and  future 
generations." 


Daniel  M.  O'Neil,  deceased,  was  a  prominent  pioneer  citizen  of  Mc- 
Lean County.  He  was  born  in  County  Cork,  Ireland,  in  1834,,  and  left 
his  home  to  come  to  America  in  1850.  His  father  died  at  the  age  of 
43  years  and  shortly  afterwards  his  mother  brought  her  family  of  nine 
children  to  America.  Daniel  M.,  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was  the 
fifth  in  order  of  birth.  After  coming  to  this  country  they  located  in 
St.  Louis,  where  Mr.  O'Neil  was  employed  by  the  Illinois  Central  Rail- 
road, cutting  timber.  He  located  in  Bloomington  in  1852  where  he  and 
his  brother,  William,  opened  a  grocery  store.  This  business  is  now  con- 
ducted by  James  and  William  O'Neil,  his  sons. 

Daniel  M.  O'Neil  became  an  engineer  on  the  Chicago  &  Alton  Rail- 
road, which  occupation  he  followed  until  the  time  of  his  retirement  in 
1893.  At  the  time  he  retired  from  service  he  was  the  oldest  engineer  on 
the  road.  During  the  Civil  War  he  carried  thousands  of  troops  to  camps 
out  of  St.  Louis.  After  the  time  of  his  retirement,  Mr.  O'Neil  became 
an  alderman  in  the  city  of  Bloomington,  and  served  continuously  in 
that  capacity  for  18  years.  He  also  served  as  acting  mayor  of  the  city 
from  1914  to  1915.  He  was  one  of  the  organizers  and  directors  of  the 
Corn  Belt  Bank  for  25  years,  and  was  the  organizer  of  the  Order  of 
Locomotive  Engineers  in  Bloomington.  He  died  Feb.  13,  1922,  at  the  age 
of  88  years,  and  is  buried  in  Bloomington. 


D-    M.    O'NKIL. 


MRS.   D.    M.    O'NEIL 


""'rip,. 


History  of  McLean  County  561 

In  1860  Mr.  O'Neil  was  married  to  Miss  Johanna  Pyne,  a  native  of 
Ireland,  and  the  daughter  of  James  and  Elizabeth  (Keefe)  Pyne,  early 
settlers  of  Bloomington.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  O'Neil  12  children  were  born, 
as  follows:  Mary,  married  Frank  Hanley,  lives  in  Bloomington;  Philip 
J.,  a  mail  clerk,  lives  in  Chicago ;  Daniel  P.,  retired,  a  sketch  of  whom 
appears  in  this  volume ;  Mrs.  Thomas  H.,  retired,  lives  on  North  Evans 
Street,  Bloomington ;  Johanna,  married  William  Fahey  and  lives  in  Bloom- 
ington; Margaret,  married  Daniel  Hayden,  lives  in  Chicago;  James  E.,  a 
member  of  the  firm  of  O'Neil  Brothers,  grocers;  Nellie,  married  William 
Morrisey,  lives  in  Denver,  Colo.;  William,  a  member  of  the  firm  of  O'Neil 
Brothers;  Agnes,  married  John  Shields,  lives  in  Bloomington;  Julia,  mar- 
ried Dr.  Greenleaf ,  whose  history  appears  elsewhere  in  this  voiume ;  and 
Loretta,  who  died  at  the  age  of  two  and  one-half  years.  Mrs.  O'Neil  died 
Jan.  30,  1912,  and  is  buried  in  St.  Mary's  cemetery. 

Mr.  O'Neil  was  a  member  of  the  Catholic  Church  and  belonged  to 
the  Ancient  Order  of  Hibernians.  He  was  highly  respected  and  was 
known  as  a  substantial  citizen  of  McLean  County. 

Mr.  O'Neil  left  to  his  children  a  large  estate  of  nearly  2,000  acres 
of  valuable  McLean  County  land  as  well  as  considerable  bank  stock  and 
Bloomington  city  property. 


Daniel  P.  O'Neil,  who  is  now  living  retired  at  Bloomington,  after  a 
successful  career  as  a  farmer  and  business  man,  is  a  native  of  Bloom- 
ington. He  was  born  Sept.  27,  1868,  and  is  a  son  of  Daniel  M.  and 
Johanna  (Pyne)  O'Neil,  a  sketch  of  whom  appears  elsewhere  in  this 
work. 

Daniel  P.  O'Neil  spent  his  boyhood  in  Bloomington  and  attended  the 
public  schools  there.  After  working  in  his  father's  store  for  several 
years,  he  attended  college  in  Kankakee,  111.,  and  also  attended  the  Old 
Evergreen  Business  College.  Mr.  O'Neil  then  returned  to  his  father's 
store  where  he  remained  for  14  years.  In  1897  he  engaged  in  general 
farming  and  stock  raising  on  240  acres  of  land  in  McLean  County, 
which  he  operated  for  25  years.  He  was  a  fancier  of  thoroughbred  horses 
and  through  his  many  sales  became  prosperous.  By  wise  investment  in 
city  and  government  bonds,  Mr.  O'Neil  has  accumulated  a  considerable 
fortune.     He  lives  at  402  North  Lee  Street. 

(34) 


562  History  of  McLean  County 

On  April  26,  1897,  Mr.  O'Neil  was  married  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Mc- 
Queeney,  a  daughter  of  Luke  and  Elizabeth  McQueeney,  natives  of  Ire- 
land and  pioneer  settlers  of  McLean  County.  Mr.  McQueeney  died  at 
the  age  of  86  years  and  his  wife  was  90  years  of  age  at  the  time  of  her 
death.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  O'Neil  have  no  children.  They  are  members  of  the 
Holy  Trinity  Catholic  Church  and  have  an  extensive  acquaintance  in 
McLean  County. 


Thomas  J.  Hayden,  retired,  is  a  substantial  citizen  of  McLean  County. 
He  was  born  Dec.  1,  1864,  in  Bloomington,  and  is  a  son  of  Thomas  J. 
and  Margaret  M.   (Moore)   Hayden. 

Thomas  J.  Hayden  was  born  in  Ireland,  as  also  was  his  wife.  He 
came  to  the  United  States  when  he  was  17  years  of  age  and  after  arriv- 
ing in  New  York  City  went  to  Buffalo,  where  he  remained  two  years. 
He  then  came  west  to  Wisconsin  where  he  remained  until  1859,  when 
he  removed  to  Bloomington.  After  being  employed  in  a  distillery  for  a 
short  time  he  entered  the  employ  of  the  Chicago  and  Alton  Railroad, 
in  the  blacksmithing  department,  where  he  remained  32  years.  Mr.  Hay- 
den died  in  1897,  and  is  buried  in  St.  Mary's  cemetery,  Bloomington.  His 
wife  died  in  1904.  They  were  the  parents  of  the  following  children: 
Johanna,  deceased;  William,  deceased;  Thomas  J.,  the  subject  of  this 
sketch;  Catherine,  died  in  May,  1923,  was  the  wife  of  John  G.  Burhyte; 
Daniel  W.,  lives  in  Chicago;  and  John  J.,  lives  at  Kankakee. 

Thomas  J.  Hayden  was  reared  and  educated  in  Bloomington  and 
began  life  as  a  machinist.  After  working  at  that  trade  for  four  years 
he  spent  one  year  in  Chicago,  after  which  he  returned  to  Bloomington 
and  entered  the  employ  of  the  Chicago  &  Alton  Railroad.  Mr.  Hayden 
was  in  the  employ  of  the  railroad  for  22  years  and  after  retiring  en- 
gaged in  general  farming  in  Towanda  Township,  McLean  County,  where 
he  owns  162  acres  of  well  improved  land,  which  is  now  being  farmed 
by  his  son,  John  F.  The  Hayden  family  lives  at  1007  North  Evans 
Street,  Bloomington. 

In  1894,  Mr.  Hayden  was  married  to  Miss  Elizabeth  O'Neil,  whose 
family  history  appears  in  this  volume.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hayden  six  chil- 
dren have  been  born,  as  follows:  Thomas  J.  Jr.,  served  in  the  World 
War  at  Camp  McArthur  most  of  the  time,  a  farmer,  lives  in  Old  Town  Town- 
ship; McLean  County,  married  Florence  Killion,  who  died  Aug.  27,  1923; 


History  of  McLean  County  563 

Daniel  A.,  a  veteran  of  the  World  War,  having  served  in  the  navy,  now 
assistant  cashier  of  the  Corn  Belt  Bank  in  Bloomington,  lives  at  home; 
Josephine,  died  at  the  age  of  five  years;  Jerome  W.,  a  student  in  the 
Loyola  Medical  School  in  Chicago;  John  F.,  a  farmer;  and  James  E.,  at- 
tends high  school. 

Mr.  Hayden  and  his  family  are  members  of  the  Catholic  Church, 
and  they  are  well  known  and  highly  respected  citizens  of  the  community. 
He  is  now  living  retired  in  a  fine  residence  at  1007  North  Evans  Street, 
Bloomington. 


S.  P.  Irwin,  reporter  of  decisions  of  the  Supreme  Court  at  Blooming- 
ton, is  a  representative  citizen  of  McLean  County.  He  was  born  in  Lodi, 
Wis.,  Feb.  19,  1870,  and  is  the  son  of  Dr.  E.  Howard  and  Sarah  E.  (Pash- 
ley)  Irwin. 

Dr.  E.  Howard  Irwin  was  born  in  Pennsylvania  and  received  his 
education  in  the  district  schools  there,  after  which  he  studied  medicine  at 
the  University  of  Michigan.  He  practiced  his  profession  for  many  years 
at  Lodi,  Wis.,  where  he  died.  His  wife,  a  native  of  Lake  George,  N.  Y., 
is  also  deceased.  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Irwin  were  the  parents  of  five  children, 
four  of  whom  were  sons. 

S.  P.  Irwin  was  reared  and  educated  in  Wisconsin.  After  attending 
the  University  of  Wisconsin  for  one  year  he  entered  the  University  of 
Michigan,  from  which  he  was  graduated  in  the  law  department  in  1894. 
Mr.  Irwin  then  began  practicing  his  profession  at  Bloomington  and  two 
years  later  became  assistant  to  Isaac  N.  Phillips,  Governor  Fifer's  law 
partner.  Mr.  Phillips  was  Supreme  Court  reporter  at  that  time  and  in 
1910  Mr.  Irwin  succeeded  him  when  he  retired  on  account  of  poor  health. 
Since  that  time  Mr.  Irwin  has  served  in  that  capacity  and  has  been  re- 
appointed on  three  occasions  by  the  judges.  He  devotes  his  entire  time 
to  this  work  and  is  thoroughly  capable  and  efficient. 

On  Thanksgiving  day  in  1891  Mr.  Irwin  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Miss  Cora  Snider,  a  native  of  Rutland,  111.,  and  the  daughter  of  C.  E. 
Snider.  She  is  a  graduate  of  the  Illinois  State  Normal  University,  and 
has  taken  a  year's  graduate  work  at  the  University  of  Virginia.  To  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Irwin  five  children  have  been  born,  as  follows:  Alta  E.,  Doris  E., 
Marjorie  F.,  Phillips,  and  Louise  G.  Irwin.    They  have  all  received  unusu- 


564  History  of  McLean  County 

ally  good  educations  and  those  who  have  completed  their  educations  hold 
responsible  positions. 

Alta  E.  Irwin  is  a  graduate  of  University  High  School  at  Normal, 
received  her  B.  A.  degree  at  James  Milliken  College  at  Decatur,  her  M.  A. 
degree  at  the  University  of  Wisconsin,  and  for  several  years  taught  school 
at  Nan  in  Siam.  She  is  now  studying  for  her  Doctor's  degree  at  the 
University  of  Wisconsin. 

Doris  E.  Irwin  is  a  graduate  of  University  High  School  at  Normal, 
received  her  B.  A.  degree  at  James  Milliken  College  at  Decatur,  and  after 
teaching  school  for  five  years  at  Chatsworth  and  Mackinaw,  111.,  is  now 
studying  in  the  New  York  School  of  Social  Work. 

Marjorie  F.  Irwin  is  a  graduate  of  University  High  School  at  Normal 
and  the  Nurses  Training  School  at  Frances  Willard  Hospital  in  Chicago, 
and  is  now  attending  Lynchburg  College  in  Lynchburg,  Va. 

Phillips  Irwin  is  a  graduate  of  University  High  School,  and  also 
attended  the  University  of  Illinois.  He  is  in  the  employ  of  the  American 
Railway  Express  and  is  studying  law  at  the  John  Marshall  Law  School. 
He  married  Miss  Nina  Short,  a  native  of  Champaign,  111.,  and  they  have 
two  children,  Phillips,  Jr.,  and  Betty  Jane  Irwin. 

Louise  G.  Irwin  is  a  graduate  of  Fairfax  Hall,  school  for  girls,  Basic, 
Va.,  and  is  now  attending  the  John  B.  Stetson  University  at  DeLand,  Fla. 

In  politics  Mr.  Irwin  is  identified  with  the  Republican  party  and  he  is 
a  member  of  the  Illinois  State  Bar  Association.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Rotary  Club,  the  Bloomington  Club,  and  the  McLean  County  Automobile 
Association.     He  and  his  family  reside  at  1003  Franklin  avenue,  Normal. 

Mr.  Irwin  is  an  enterprising  and  progressive  citizen  and  is  widely 
and  favorably  known. 


Dr.  Henry  G.  McCormick,  a  popular  and  successful  dentist,  in  charge 
of  the  Soldiers'  Orphans'  Home  at  Normal,  was  born  at  Normal,  Oct.  14, 
1880.  He  is  a  son  of  Prof.  Henry  and  Numantia  (Kinyon)  McCormick, 
the  former  vice-president  and  for  many  years  prominent  in  the  affairs  of 
Illinois  State  Normal  University. 

Dr.  Henry  G.  McCormick  spent  his  boyhood  in  Normal  and  was  grad- 
uated from  the  University  High  School  there  and  from  the  University  of 


History  of  McLean  County  565 

Michigan  in  1903,  where  he  studied  dentistry.  He  located  at  Normal  for 
two  years  and  from  there  went  to  Manhattan,  Kan.,  where  he  practiced 
his  profession  until  1909.  After  returning  to  Normal  he  resumed  his 
practice  there  until  1918,  when  after  taking  civil  service  examination,  he 

►was  appointed  dentist  of  the  Soldiers'  Orphans'  Home  at  Normal. 
On  May  16,  1908,  Dr.  McCormick  was  married  to  Miss  Louise  Sting- 
ley,  a  native  of  Manhattan,  Kans.  They  have  no  children. 
Dr.  McCormick  is  a  Republican  and  has  served  as  a  member  of  the 
council  of  Normal  for  five  years.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church  and  belongs  to  the  Masonic  lodge  of  Normal,  the  Consistory  and 
Commandary  of  Bloomington.  He  lives  at  505  South  Fell  Street,  Normal. 
Dr.  McCormick  is  an  able  man  in  his  profession  and  a  citizen  of  pro- 
gressive ideals. 


W.  J.  Arbogast,  president  of  the  Normal  Commercial  Club,  is  a  lead- 
ing citizen  of  McLean  County.  He  was  born  at  Farmer  City,  111.,  July  2, 
1867,  and  is  the  son  of  D.  H.  and  Minerva  (Payne)  Arbogast. 

D.  H.  Arbogast  was  a  native  of  Ohio,  born  May  2,  1826,  and  his  wife 
was  born  in  Tennessee.  Mr.  Arbogast  came  to  Illinois  in  1832  and  settled 
on  a  farm  near  Farmer  City,  in  DeWitt  County.  He  died  in  1916,  and 
his  wife  who  was  born  in  1829,  died  in  1914.  They  were  the  parents  of 
nine  children,  five  of  whom  are  now  living. 

W.  J.  Arbogast  spent  his  boyhood  on  his  father's  farm  and  received 
his  education  in  the  schools  of  Farmer  City.  He  was  graduated  from 
high  school  in  1887  and  then  went  into  the  general  contracting  business 
at  Farmer  City,  where  he  remained  until  1893.  He  then  moved  to  Normal 
and  continued  in  that  line  of  work  until  the  time  of  his  retirement  in 
1908.  Mr.  Arbogast  became  heir  to  271  acres  of  well  improved  land  in 
McLean  County,  which  he  now  owns  besides  land  in  Texas  and  Mississippi. 
He  resides  at  305  North  School  Street,  Normal. 

On  June  1,  1893,  Mr.  Arbogast  was  married  to  Miss  Mary  Fry,  a 
native  of  Randolph  Township,  McLean  County,  and  the  daughter  of 
Abraham  and  Elizabeth  (Bishop)  Fry,  the  former  a  native  of  Green 
County,  Pa.,  and  the  latter  of  Hey  worth,  111.  The  mother  of  Mrs.  Arbo- 
gast was  one  of  13  children,  all  of  whom  grew  to  maturity  and  reared 
families.    A  Bishop  reunion  is  held  every  year  and  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Arbogast 


566  History  of  McLean  County 

have  attended  28  out  of  30,  all  of  which  have  been  held  in  Miller  Park, 
Bloomington.  To  W.  J.  and  Mary  (Fry)  Arbogast  one  child  has  been 
born,  Florence  Minerva,  born  Feb.  24,  1912. 

In  1917  Mr.  Arbogast  was  elected  president  of  the  Normal  Commer- 
cial Club,  which  office  he  still  holds.  He  is  a  Republican,  and  in  1923  was 
appointed  superintendent  of  hard  road  construction.  Mr.  Arbogast  is  a 
member  of  the  Christian  Church  and  is  a  32nd  degree  Mason  and  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Consistory  of  Bloomington.  He  was  selected  by  John  McBarnes 
in  1921  to  serve  on  the  building  committee  in  the  erection  of  the  McBarnes 
Memorial  for  soldiers  and  sailors  of  McLean  County  who  took  part  in  the 
World  war.  He  also  served  as  superintendent  of  construction  when  the 
memorial  was  erected.  Mrs.  Arbogast  is  a  cousin  to  Mrs.  Celia  McBarnes, 
wife  of  the  late  John  McBarnes. 

W.  J.  Arbogast  is  a  representative  citizen  of  his  community  and  the 
Arbogast  family  is  one  of  the  well  established  and  well  known  families 
of  McLean  County. 


Frank  H.  Petrie,  a  progressive  business  man  of  Bloomington,  was 
born  at  Fleming,  Ky.,  June  25,  1861,  the  son  of  David  A.  and  Hannah 
(Lewellen)  Petrie. 

David  Petrie  was  a  native  of  Herkimer  County,  N.  Y.,  the  county 
which  furnished  more  Revolutionary  soldiers  than  any  other  county  in 
the  United  States.  The  Petrie  family  originally  came  from  Holland. 
David  Petrie  went  to  Kentucky  when  he  was  a  young  man  and  worked 
at  the  carpenter  trade  there.  He  and  his  wife  are  now  deceased.  They 
were  the  parents  of  eight  children,  as  follows:  John  A.,  born  in  1857, 
married  Samantha  Pierce  and  they  had  two  children,  Edith  and  Nina,  and 
he  later  married  Emeline  Alkire ;  Clarence,  born  in  T859,  married  L.  B. 
Childs,  and  they  have  three  children,  David,  Winifred  and  Herbert ;  Frank 
H.,  the  subject  of  this  sketch;  Lucy  Grace,  born  in  1863,  married  Dr. 
Hammill,  and  they  have  two  children,  Ray  and  Marshall;  Lydia  Anne, 
born  in  1865,  married  Marshall  Moore;  Phoebe  Alice,  died  at  the  age  of 
four  years ;  Charles  A.,  died  at  the  age  of  three  years ;  and  Claude,  born  in 
1871,  married  Marian  Rowe,  and  they  have  two  children,  Audrey  and 
Vivian,  lives  at  Greenview,  111.,  and  he  is  editor  of  the  Greenview  Review. 

Frank  H.  Petrie  started  to  work  at  the  age  of  12  years  and  was  in 
the  employ  of  the  Greenview  Coal  Company  for  20  years.    In  1907  he  came 


History  of  McLean  County  567 

to  McLean  County  and  worked  at  the  carpenter  trade.  He  took  part  in 
the  construction  of  several  grain  elevators,  which  were  owned  by  Warren 
Darnell. 

In  1915  Mr.  Petrie  became  interested  in  the  burial  vault  business  in 
Bloomington.  The  business  was  located  first  at  230  East  Front  Street,  and 
five  years  later  was  moved  to  810  West  Front  street.  The  following 
year  Mr.  Petrie  removed  to  his  present  location  at  503  West  Washington 
street,  where  he  owns  a  modern  factory  building.  The  concern  is  known 
as  the  Norwalk  Vault  Company,  and  Mr.  Petrie  has  county  rights  in  Lo- 
gan, Menard  and  McLean  County.  The  Norwalk  burial  vaults  are  water- 
proof, air-proof  and  sealed.  During  his  first  year  of  business  Mr.  Petrie 
sold  nine  vaults,  the  second  year,  49,  the  third  year  126,  and  in  1922,  165. 

Mr.  Petrie  was  married  to  Miss  Lottie  Rogers,  a  native  of  Covell, 
III,  born  Aug.  21,  1864,  and  the  daughter  of  Wesley  H.  and  Mary  I.  (Hart) 
Rogers.     To  this  union  one  child  was  born,  that  died  in  infancy. 

Mr.  Petrie  is  a  member  of  the  Second  Presbyterian  Church  and  be- 
longs to  the  Masonic  lodge,  A.  F.  and  A.  M.  No.  43,  Bloomington,  III,  of 
which  he  is  Past  Master. 


Frank  L.  Washburn,  of  the  firm  of  A.  Washburn  and  Sons,  florists 
and  nurserymen,  with  business  headquarters  at  318  North  Main  Street, 
Bloomington,  is  a  well  known  and  successful  business  man  of  McLean 
County.  He  was  born  at  Danvers,  111.,  Jan.  11,  1869,  the  son  of  Andrew 
and  Cordelia  Washburn. 

Andrew  Washburn  came  to  McLean  County  from  Connecticut  in 
1866  and  settled  at  Danvers.  He  was  a  captain  during  the  Civil  war  in 
the  29th  Regiment,  Connecticut  Volunteer  Infantry,  and  served  through- 
out the  war.  There  were  six  children  in  the  Washburn  family,  as  follows : 
Frank  L.,  the  subject  of  this  sketch;  George  A.,  in  business  with  his 
brother  at  Bloomington;  A.  Edwin,  lives  in  Canada;  Emma  F.,  married 
H.  H.  Edmunds,  superintendent  of  schools  at  Clinton,  111. ;  Edna  Boundy, 
lives  in  Beloit,  Wis. ;  and  Lucy  Prather,  lives  in  Bloomington. 

Andrew  Washburn  engaged  in  the  nursery  and  floral  business  in  1894 
at  Bloomington,  and  the  business  is  now  conducted  by  his  two  sons,  Frank 
L.  and  George  A.  Washburn.    They  have  two  large  greenhouse  establish- 


568  History  of  McLean  County 

ments  at  Normal  and  Bloomington  and  have  been  unusually  successful 
in  their  enterprise. 

Frank  L.  Washburn  attended  the  public  schools  of  McLean  County, 
where  he  has  spent  his  entire  life.  In  1907  he  was  married  to  Miss  Emma 
S.  Randolph.  They  have  no  children.  The  Washburn  home  is  located 
two  miles  west  of  Bloomington. 

Mr.  Washburn  is  a  Republican,  a  member  of  the  First  Baptist  Church 
and  is  a  32nd  degree  Mason. 


Mrs.  Delia  H.  Rigby,  C.  S.  B.— The  history  of  the  First  Church  of 
Christ,  Scientist,  of  Bloomington,  111.,  which  appears  in  another  chapter 
of  this  work  would  be  incomplete  without  specific  mention  of  its  princi- 
pal pioneer  worker,  Mrs.  Delia  H.  Rigby,  C.  S.  B. 

Previous  to  coming  into  Christian  Science,  Mrs.  Rigby  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  First  Methodist  Church  of  Bloomington,  and  was  a  valued 
worker  in  all  its  varied  activities,  receiving  the  appointment  of  confer- 
ence organizer  for  the  Home  Missionary  Society  from  its  leading  mem- 
bers. Later,  she  presided  over  the  suffrage  department  of  the  Woman's 
Christian  Temperance  Union,  for  which  she  worked  enthusiastically.  Was 
a  delegate  to  the  World's  Fair  in  Chicago  on  this  line  of  work. 

Always  delicate  and  frail  of  physique,  and  having  sought  healing  of 
various  physicians  without  avail,  she  asked  for  the  prayers  of  her  pastor. 
This,  too,  failed  to  bring  the  much  desired  healing.  It  was  then  that 
her  attention  was  called  to  Christian  Science.  She  tested  its  merits  and 
realized  physical  healing.  She  found,  too,  that  this  scientific  Christianity 
uplifted  one  morally  and  spiritually,  and  with  Science  and  Health  with 
Key  to  the  Scriptures  by  Mary  Baker  Eddy,  Mrs.  Rigby  at  once  began 
healing,  and  her  success  was  phenomenal.  She  went  to  Chicago  to  fur- 
ther advance  herself  by  taking  a  primary  course  from  Mrs.  Caroline 
B.  Noyes,  C.  S.  D.,  one  of  Mrs.  Eddy's  oldest  students.  On  her  return, 
she  devoted  all  her  time  to  the  practice  of  Christian  Science. 

Later  in  May,  1889,  she  fitted  herself  for  an  authorized  Christian 
Science  teacher  by  taking  the  Normal  Course  in  the  Massachusetts  Meta- 
physical College,  personally  taught  by  Mary  Baker  Eddy.  Since  return- 
ing to  this  field,  she  has  taught  a  large  number  of  students  whom  she 


MRS.    DELLA    H.    RIGBT. 


History  of  McLean  County  569 

has  fitted  for  the  work  of  healing  the  sick,  and  casting  out  sin  in  them- 
selves and  others,  from  almost  every  part  of  the  United  States. 

Sarah  E.  Raymond,  superintendent  of  the  Bloomington  public  schools 
for  many  years,  wrote  of  her  as  a  teacher  as  follows: 

"This  is  to  certify  that  Mrs.  Delia  H.  Rigby  was  a  highly  valued 
teacher  in  the  public  schools  of  this  city  for  ten  years.  She  had  a  high 
appreciation  of  her  profession,  was  successful  both  in  discipline  and  in- 
struction, and  was  loyal  to  all  the  highest  interests  of  the  school,  con- 
sidering the  individual  interests  and  peculiarities  of  her  pupils.  Her 
sunny  disposition  won  for  her  the  universal  regard  of  her  pupils  and 
associates.  All  her  conduct  was  regulated  by  the  highest  Christian  prin- 
ciples." 

Hon.  Louis  FitzHenry,  District  Judge  of  the  U.  S.  Court,  in  writing 
of  her,  said  in  part:  "I  know  of  her  more  as  a  citizen  than  otherwise. 
It  has  been  my  pleasure  to  have  enjoyed  acquaintance  with  her  for  over 
thirty  years.  Her  remarkable  ability  and  splendid  character  attracted 
public  notice  while  she  was  a  teacher  in  the  public  schools  of  Blooming- 
ton.  Later,  she  became  interested  in  Science,  having  been  one  of  Mrs. 
Eddy's  pupils. 

"She  became  a  practitioner  and  for  more  than  twenty  years  has 
been  the  recognized  leader  of  Science  in  this  community.  During  that 
time,  she  has  brought  much  relief,  consolation  and  comfort  to  many  of 
our  citizens,  and  it  is  the  general  public  conception  that  no  small  part 
of  the  wonderful  advance  made  by  Science  in  this  community  has  been 
the  result  of  her  earnest  conscientious  efforts. 

"During  her  long  residence  in  Bloomington,  born  here,  she  has  been 
identified  with,  and  'has  given  substantial,  enthusiastic  support  to,  every 
public  movement  which  has  had  for  its  purpose  the  uplifting  of  the 
morals  of  the  community  and  the  development  of  Christian  citizenship." 

Prof.  D.  C.  Ridgley  for  seventeen  years  head  of  the  Geographical 
department  of  the  Illinois  State  Normal  University,  now  of  Clark  Col- 
lege, Worcester,  Mass.,  writes  of  her: 

"Mrs.  Rigby's  work  as  a  member  of  First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist, 
from  the  time  of  its  organization  to  the  present  time  may  be  expressed 
in  one  word — Loyalty — loyalty  to  Principle;  loyalty  to  the  explicit  teach- 
ings and  direction  of  her  teacher,  Mary  Baker  Eddy,  the  discoverer  and 
founder  of  Christian  Science;  loyalty  to  the  board  of  directors  of  the 
Mother  Church ;  loyalty  to  every  progressive  step  made  by  the  band  of 


570  History  of  McLean  County 

workers  in  the  local  church;  loyalty  to  a  scientific  practice  of  Christian 
Science,  for  the  good  of  human  kind  as  laid  down  in  Science  and  Health 
the  Christian  Science  text-book. 

As  an  authorized  teacher  of  Christian  Science,  a  graduate  in  1889 
of  the  Massachusetts  Metaphysical  College  of  Boston,  and  as  a  member 
of  the  board  of  directors  of  this  church  for  a  score  of  years,  Mrs.  Rigby 
has  been  prominent  in  the  development  of  Christian  Science  in  the  local 
field." 

Mrs.  Rigby  was  married  to  Amos  W.  Rigby,  June,  1882.  He  has  been 
connected  in  a  business  way  with  several  of  the  leading  industries  of 
the  city.  For  twelve  years  being  a  partner  with  J.  H.  Niehaus  in  The 
Peoples  Restaurant  and  The  Boston  Cafe.  Mr.  Rigby  has  retired  from 
active  business  life.  He  is  respected  by  all  who  know  him  for  his  ster- 
ling uprightness  of  character,  also  being  a  firm  believer  in  Christian  Sci- 
ence, always  having  been  closely  identified  in  all  the  footsteps  of  con- 
structive growth  in  Christian  Science  with  his  wife  since  her  healing. 
They  have  no  children. 


Joseph  W.  Stubblefield,  retired,  is  a  member  of  a  well-known  pioneer 
family  of  McLean  County.  He  was  born  on  a  farm  in  Mount  Hope  Town- 
ship, McLean  County,  Nov.  13,  1856,  the  son  of  George  M.  and  Eliza 
Jane  (Murphy)  Stubblefield. 

George  M.  Stubblefield  was  a  native  of  Ohio  and  came  to  McLean 
County  in  1824  with  his  parents,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Robert  Stubblefield.  His 
father  entered  land  from  the  government  and  was  orie  of  the  large  land 
owners  of  the  county.  George  M.  Stubblefield  followed  farming  during 
his  entire  life  and  met  with  success.  He  died  in  1920  and  is  buried  In 
Funks  Grove  Cemetery.  His  widow  now  lives  at  Bloomington.  They 
were  the  parents  of  seven  children,  as  follows:  Charles,  died  in  1915; 
Mary,  married  Albert  Longworth,  who  is  deceased;  Samuel,  deceased; 
Joseph  W.,  the  subject  of  this  sketch;  George,  died  in  infancy;  Isaac  F., 
married  Martha  Rogers,  lives  at  Bloomington,  and  Thaddeus,  married 
Leota  Houghman,  lives  at  Bloomington. 

Joseph  W.  Stubblefield  was  reared  on  the  farm  and  received  his  edu- 
cation in  the  district  schools  of  McLean  County  and  attended  Baker 
Business  College  at  Bloomington.     He  then  engaged  in  general  farming 


History  of  McLean  County  571 

and  stock  raising  in  Mount  Hope  Township  until  1920,  when  he  retired 
and  moved  to  McLean.  Mr.  Stubblefield  lives  in  a  fine  brick  dwelling 
there  and  still  owns  470  acres  of  land  with  his  wife. 

In  1882  Mr.  Stubblefield  was  married  to  Miss  Louie  M.  McCormick,  a 
native  of  McLean  County,  born  Nov.  27,  1862,  and  the  daughter  of  Marion 
and  Belinda  McCormick.  The  McCormicks  came  to  McLean  County  from 
Ohio  in  1835,  and  settled  on  a  farm  in  Mount  Hope  Township.  They 
were  married  in  Mount  Hope  Township  in  1861.  Mr. 'McCormick  died 
Jan.  9,  1916,  and  his  wife  died  Aug.  6,  1921.  To  Joseph  W.  and  Louie 
M.  (McCormick)  Stubblefield  four  children  have  been  born,  as  follows: 
Marion,  born  in  1886,  married  Florence  Horn,  lives  at  McLean,  and  they 
have  two  children,  Francis  and  Rachael;  Eunice,  born  in  1888,  now  de- 
ceased, was  the  wife  of  Oscar  Dodgson;  Myrtie,  born  in  1890,  unmarried, 
lives  at  home,  and  Ansel,  born  in  1893,  married  Pearl  Nafzinger,  lives 
on  the  home  place  and  they  have  two  children,  Josephine  and  Barbara  Lou. 

Ansel  Stubblefield  is  a  veteran  of  the  World  War.  He  enlisted  at  Mc- 
Lean and  was  stationed  at  Camp  Grant  and  later  at  Washington,  D.  C. 
While  at  Camp  Grant  he  was  commissioned  second  lieutenant  and  he  was 
then  stationed  in  the  officers'  training  camp  at  Washington,  D.  C. 

Joseph  W.  Stubblefield  is  a  Republican  and  a  director  of  the  McLean 
State  Bank.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Church,  of  which  he  has 
been  a  trustee  for  25  years,  and  he  belongs  to  the  Masonic  lodge  and  the 
Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows.  Mr.  Stubblefield  is  a  representative 
and  dependable  citizen  of  McLean  County  and  has  many  friends. 


Timothy  Benjamin,  now  living  retired  in  Bloomington,  is  a  member 
of  a  prominent  pioneer  family  of  McLean  County.  He  was  born  in  Co- 
lumbia County,  N.  Y.,  April  9,  1853,  and  is  a  son  of  John  R.  and  Sarah  M. 
(Beaver)  Benjamin. 

John  R.  Benjamin  was  born  in  New  York  in  1824,  the  son  of  Darius 
and  Martha  (Rogers)  Benjamin,  natives  of  Chatham,  N.  Y.  Darius  Ben- 
jamin, who  was  a  farmer  by  occupation,  served  in  the  War  of  1812,  and 
Ebenezer  Benjamin,  his  father,  was  a  captain  in  the  Revolutionary  War. 
The  original  paternal  ancestor  in  America  was  John  Benjamin,  who  came 
over  from  England  on  the  ship  "Lion,"  arriving  in  Boston  harbor,  Sept. 


572  History  of  McLean  County 

16,  1632.  He  was  one  of  the  proprietors  of  New  Town,  Mass.,  now 
Cambridge. 

John  R.  Benjamin  was  married  in  Pennsylvania  to  Sarah  M.  Beaver, 
who  was  born  in  Chester  County,  Pa.,  in  1819.  After  a  number  of  years 
they  moved  to  Illinois,  arriving  in  McLean  County  in  1854.  They  located 
in  Old  Town  Township  and  the  following  year  removed  to  Dawson  Town- 
ship, where  Mr.  Benjamin  became  the  owner  of  400  acres  of  land.  He 
died  Oct.  17,  1889.  In  religious  faith  he  was  a  Quaker  and  together  with 
others  organized  the  first  Friends  Church  in  McLean  County.  Politically 
he  was  identified  with  the  Republican  party.  The  town  of  Benjamin- 
ville  was  named  after  Mr.  Benjamin.  Six  children  were  born  to  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  John  R.  Benjamin,  as  follows:  Deborah,  married  T.  J.  Moore,  lives 
at  1117  East  Monroe  Street,  Bloomington;  Timothy,  the  subject  of  this 
sketch;  Martha  E.,  the  widow  of  W.  B.  Mills;  George  0.,  married  Dora 
Wampler,  lives  in  Bloomington;  John;  and  Charles. 

Judge  Reuben  Moore  Benjamin,  an  uncle  of  Timothy  Benjamin,  was 
one  of  the  most  distinguished  lawyers,  educators,  authors,  and  jurists 
of  Illinois.  He  was  born  at  Chatham  Center,  Columbia  County,  N.  Y., 
June  29,  1833,  and  died  in  August,  1916. 

Timothy  Benjamin  was  educated  in  the  schools  of  Benjaminville  and 
attended  Brown's  Business  College.  He  then  engaged  in  farming  in  Old 
Town  Township,  and  after  renting  land  for  10  years,  purchased  a  quartei' 
of  a  section.  After  farming  until  1881  he  went  west  for  a  short  time, 
and  upon  his  return  farmed  until  1894  when  he  moved  to  Bloomington. 
After  two  and  one-half  years  Mr.  Benjamin  removed  to  a  farm  near 
Holder,  111.,  where  he  lived  for  four  years.  He  sold  out  and  bought  a 
farm  near  Colfax;  sold  out  and  returned  to  Bloomington  and  resided  on 
East  Washington  Street  for  seven  and  one-half  years.  In  1909  he  again 
returned  to  his  old  homestead,  remaining  there  until  1919.  Mr.  Ben- 
jamin now  lives  at  1106  East  Grove  Street,  Bloomington. 

In  1875,  Timothy  Benjamin  was  married  to  Miss  Anna  Coale,  a  na- 
tive of  Huntington,  Ind.,  and  the  daughter  of  Joshua  Coale.  She  died 
in  April,  1877,  leaving  one  son,  Arthur  L.,  who  lives  in  Old  Town  Town- 
ship, McLean  County.  He  married  Grace  Price  and  they  have  four  chil- 
dren, as  follows:  Anna,  married  Roy  Percy;  Roland,  married  Miss  Ott; 
Louis;  and  William. 

In  1883,  Mr.  Benjamin  was  married  the  second  time  to  Miss  Agnes 
McBarnes,  a  native  of  Harrison  County,  Ohio,  and  the  daughter  of  Den- 


History  of  McLean  County  573 

nis  and  Mary  Jane  (Dickey)  McBarnes.  Agnes  McBarnes  is  a  sister  of 
John  McBarnes,  the  donor  of  McBarnes'  Memorial  Building-  which  is  men- 
tioned more  extensively  elsewhere  in  this  work.  Miss  McBarnes  was 
educated  at  the  State  Normal  University  at  Normal,  111.,  and  Wesleyan 
University  and  taught  school  for  15  years  in  McLean  County.  Her  par- 
ents were  very  early  settlers  in  McLean  County,  coming  here  in  1853. 
They  settled  in  Old  Town  Township ;  they  are  both  deceased  and  are  buried 
in  Evergreen  Cemetery  at  Bloomington. 

To  Timothy  and  Agnes  (McBarnes)  Benjamin  three  children  were 
born,  as  follows:  Sadie  M.,  who  is  a  graduate  of  Wesleyan  University, 
and  the  Illinois  College  and  is  a  teacher;  John  M.,  married  Mary  Fitz- 
Henry,  and  they  have  two  children,  Dorothy  and  Kenneth;  and  Russel  J., 
married  Anna  Layden,  and  they  have  three  children,  Eugene,  Martha  Ann, 
and  Timothy. 

Mr.  Benjamin  is  a  Republican  and  served  as  school  director  for  21 
years  and  as  road  commissioner.  He  is  a  Quaker.  The  Benjamin  family 
has  been  well  and  favorably  known  in  the  community  for  many  years,  and 
Mr.  Benjamin  is  highly  esteemed  as  an  excellent  citizen. 


John  Mikel,  now  living  retired  at  Bloomington,  for  many  years  was 
one  of  the  leading  farmers  and  stockmen  of  McLean  County.  He  was 
born  in  Darke  County,  Ohio,  Sept.  5,  1841,  the  son  of  William  and  Cath- 
erine (Warner)  Mikel. 

William  Mikel  was  born  March  25,  1813,  and  was  among  the  earliest 
settlers  of  Illinois,  having  settled  on  a  farm  in  McLean  County  in  1845. 
He  became  a  prosperous  farmer  and  at  the  time  of  his  death  owned  640 
acres  of  good  farm  land.  He  died  Oct.  11,  1879,  and  his  wife,  a  native 
of  Pennsylvania,  is  also  deceased.  They  were  the  parents  of  the  follow- 
ing children:  Elizabeth  Leach,  lives  at  Bloomington;  Sylvanus,  de- 
ceased ;  Margaret,  deceased ;  John,  the  subject  of  this  sketch ;  Nancy 
Davis,  deceased ;  Catherine  Martin ;  Susan,  deceased ;  Andrew,  lives  in 
Kansas;  Mary,  deceased;  Sarah,  deceased;  Jacob,  deceased;  William,  lives 
in  Illinois;  Joseph,  deceased. 

John  Mikel  was  reared  on  his  father's  farm  and  attended  the  dis- 
trict schools.  He  has  always  followed  farming  and  has  been  among  the 
prominent  stockmen  of  McLean  County.     Mr.  Mikel  now  owns  450  acres 


574  History  of  McLean  County 

of  land  in  Downs  and  Old  Town  townships,  which  he  rents,  and  he  has 
lived  in  Bloomington  for  20  years. 

On  June  16,  1871,  Mr.  Mikel  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Mary 
Jane  Bunn,  a  native  of  Illinois,  born  Feb.  6,  1854,  and  the  daughter  of 
David  and  Hannah  Bunn.  Mr.  Bunn's  first  wife  died  when  Mrs.  Mikel 
was  but  four  months  old  and  he  later  married  Ellen  Ritter.  To  that 
union  one  child  was  born,  John,  deceased.  Mr.  Bunn  was  married  a  third 
time  to  Elizabeth  Horr,  and  six  children  were  born  to  that  union :  Elmer, 
Martha,  Katie,  Temperance,  Josiah,  and  Sallie,  all  deceased.  To  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  John  Mikel  the  following  children  were  born :  Sallie,  born  March  17, 
1872,  lives  in  Bloomington;  Louis,  born  June  5,  1873,  lives  at  home;  Will- 
iam, born  Sept.  11,  1879,  died  Dec.  29,  1886;  David  Keith,  born  April  4, 
1888,  Downs  Township;  and  two  children  died  in  infancy.  Mrs.  Sallie 
Craig  had  one  child,  John,  born  Sept.  17,  1903,  died  July  14,  1909.  She 
is  now  rearing  a  girl,  Catherine. 

Mr.  Mikel  is  identified  with  the  Democratic  party  in  politics  and  is  a 
member  of  the  Christian  Church.  He  is  one  of  the  substantial  citizens 
of  his  community. 


F.  S.  Foulk,  the  well  known  mayor  of  Normal,  was  born  three  and 
one-half  miles  southwest  of  Decatur,  111.,  June  22,  1865,  the  son  of  John 
and  Mary  Ann  (Pearson)  Foulk. 

John  Foulk  was  a  native  of  Perry  County,  111.,  as  also  was  his  wife! 
They  were  married  in  Pennsylvania  and  came  to  Illinois  in  1856  and  set- 
tled on  a  farm  near  Decatur.  Mr.  Foulk  was  a  cabinet  maker  by  trade 
in  Pennsylvania,  and  after  coming  to  Illinois  engaged  in  general  farming 
and  stock  raising.  In  1878  the  family  moved  to  a  farm  three  miles  west 
of  Saybrook  and  remained  there  until  1887  when  they  moved  to  the  town 
of  Saybrook,  where  Mr.  Foulk  died  in  1900.  His  wife  died  Jan.  1,  1922, 
at  the  age  of  97  years.  She  retained  all  her  faculties  up  to  a  week  before 
her  death.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  John  Foulk  had  10  children,  nine  of  whom  grew 
to  maturity,  as  follows:  Maria  A.  Russell,  lives  at  Decatur;  Seville  Cor- 
nelius, lives  at  Whitewater,  Kan. ;  Rev.  S.  W.,  deceased,  was  pastor  of 
the  United  Brethren  Church,  at  Holton,  Kan. ;  David  J.,  died  in  Garden 
City,   Kan. ;  Elizabeth,  married  J.   P.   Smith,   lives  at  Arrowsmith,  111. ; 


History  of  McLean  County  575 

J.  C,  died  at  Rockyford,  Colo.;  F.  S.,  the  subject  of  this  sketch;  and  Mrs. 
E.  E.  Merritt,  deceased. 

F.  S.  Foulk  was  born  in  a  log  cabin  and  slept  in  an  old  time  trundle 
bed  and  was  reared  amidst  pioneer  surroundings.  At  the  age  of  12  years 
he  came  to  McLean  County  with  his  parents  and  lived  on  the  farm.  He 
received  his  education  in  the  district  schools  and  began  farming  for  him- 
self at  the  age  of  21  years.  Mr.  Foulk  followed  general  farming  and 
stock  raising  in  Arrowsmith  Township  until  February,  1915,  when  he 
came  to  Normal.  In  July  of  the  same  year  he  went  to  California  to  attend 
the  exposition  and  in  the  spring  of  1917  was  elected  to  the  city  council  of 
Normal.  Mr.  Foulk  is  serving  his  third  term  as  mayor  and  as  an  official 
he  has  been  very  progressive  and  efficient.  During  his  first  year  of  office 
improvements  amounting  to  $90,000.00  were  made  in  the  streets  of 
Normal. 

Mr.  Foulk  was  married  Dec.  15,  1886,  to  Miss  Elizabeth  R.  Kepner, 
a  native  of  McLean  County  and  the  daughter  of  James  Kepner.  James 
Kepner  was  a  Civil  War  veteran,  having  served  with  Pennsylvania  troops, 
and  he  came  to  Illinois  shortly  after  the  war.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  F.  S.  Foulk 
have  two  children,  as  follows:  Chesleigh,  farmer  and  stockman,  lives 
near  Arrowsmith,  111. ;  and  Frank  Earl,  farmer  and  stockman,  lives  near 
Fletcher,  111. 

Mr.  Foulk  has  always  been  a  Republican  and  has  taken  an  active  in- 
terest in  local  affairs.  He  has  held  the  office  of  school  director  for  20 
years  and  belongs  to  the  Masonic  Lodge  No.  673  of  Normal  and  the  Knights 
of  Pythias,  Hope  Lodge  No.  140,  of  Saybrook.  Mr.  Foulk  is  a  member  of 
the  Methodist  Church,  and  he  is  a  highly  respected  citizen  of  McLean 
County. 


Frank  Albert  Walker,  now  living  retired  at  Normal,  has  been  a  prom- 
inent farmer  and  stockman  of  McLean  County  for  many  years.  He  was 
born  near  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  March  8,  1856. 

When  Mr.  Walker  was  six  months  old  his  parents  moved  to  Illinois 
and  settled  on  a  farm  one  mile  north  of  the  present  town  of  Normal.  He 
received  his  education  in  the  district  schools  and  then  engaged  in  gen- 
eral farming  and  stock  raising.     Mr.  Walker  was  very  successful  in  his 


576  History  of  McLean  County 

work  and  was  known  as  a  dairyman.     For  the  past  three  years  he  has 
lived  retired. 

Mr.  Walker  was  identified  with  the  Republican  party  and  later  the 
Prohibition  party  in  politics.  He  is  unmarried  and  his  sister,  Anna 
Walker,  keeps  house  for  him.  Mr.  Walker  is  a  substantial  citizen  and 
stands  high  in  the  community  and  county. 


Jacob  N.  Hilton,  now  living  retired  at  Bloomington,  has  been  a  prom- 
inent farmer  and  stockman  of  McLean  County  for  many  years.  He  was 
born  in  Harrison  County,  Ohio,  Feb.  15,  1851,  and  is  a  son  of  John  W.  and 
Mary  (Vasbinder)  Hilton. 

John  W.  Hilton  was  born  in  Virginia  and  when  he  was  a  young  man 
removed  to  Ohio,  where  he  engaged  in  general  farming  and  also  followed 
his  trade  as  a  blacksmith.  In  1872  the  Hilton  family  came  to  McLean 
County  and  settled  on  land  eight  miles  northwest  of  Bloomington,  which 
was  purchased  for  $42.50  per  acre.  This  land  is  still  in  possession  of  the 
Hilton  family.  After  coming  to  Illinois,  Mr.  Hilton  built  a  blacksmith 
shop  on  his  farm  and  did  work  for  the  neighbors.  He  died  in  1885  and 
his  wife  died  in  1881.  Mr.  Hilton  was  a  Democrat  and  while  living  in 
Ohio  served  as  justice  of  the  peace.  As  the  result  of  an  accident  he  ever 
after  had  a  stiff  arm,  and  thus  was  unable  to  serve  during  the  Civil  War. 
However,  he  hired  a  substitute  to  take  his  place.  When  Morgan's  raid 
occurred  in  Ohio,  the  troops  passed  within  three  miles  of  Mr.  Hilton's 
home  and  Shackelford's  men  attacked  Morgan's  men  at  that  spot.  Mr. 
Hilton  got  out  his  horse  and  taking  his  rifle  joined  Shackelford's  forces. 
Morgan  was  captured  that  day. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  John  W.  Hilton  were  the  parents  of  the  following  chil- 
dren: Margaret  Jane,  married  William  Kirkpatrick,  both  deceased; 
Thomas  H.  married  Elizabeth  Hastings  and  had  four  children,  Belle,  Oliver 
John  L.,  Bertha,  moved  to  Utica,  Nebr.,  in  1884  pr  '85  where  he  died  about 
1886;  Mary  Agnes,  married  John  V.  Dickerson,  both  deceased;  and  Jacob 
N.,  the  subject  of  this  sketch. 

Jacob  N.  Hilton  grew  up  on  his  father's  farm  and  received  his  educa- 
tion in  the  district  schools  of  Ohio  and  Illinois.  At  the  age  of  24  years  he 
was  married  to  Miss  Louisa  Bohrer,  a  daughter  of  Frederick  C.  and  Maria 
(Zigler)    Bohrer.     After  their  marriage,   Mr.   and  Mrs.   Hilton  went  to 


Of  nip 


History  of  McLean  County  577 

Kansas,  where  he  purchased  a  section  of  land  five  miles  north  of  Pea- 
body,  Kan.  In  1882,  however,  they  returned  to  Illinois  and  rented  land 
until  the  time  of  Mr.  Hilton's  father's  death,  when  they  purchased  the 
old  home  place.  Mr.  Hilton  became  a  successful  farmer  and  at  one  time 
owned  700  acres  of  well-improved  land  in  McLean  County.  He  has  lived 
retired  since  1909  and  owns  a  fine  home  in  Bloomington,  which  is  located 
at  401  West  Chestnut  Street. 

To  Jacob  N.  and  Louisa  (Bohrer)  Hilton  the  following  children  were 
born:  Alfred  Willis,  a  farmer,  lives  near  Bloomington,  and  has  one 
daughter,  Margaret  L. ;  Mary  Edna,  married  Elmer  Gerber,  and  they  have 
five  children,  Loda,  Helen,  Ruth,  Joseph  N.,  and  Charles;  Charles  W.,  has 
one  child,  Nelson  V.,  and  lives  in  Wheaton,  111. ;  Nellie,  married  Frederick 
Stappenbeck,  and  they  have  four  children,  Guy,  Gale,  Grace,  and  Glenna; 
Guy  is  a  dairyman  and  farmer  residing  eight  miles  northwest  of  Bloom- 
ington and  has  two  children,  Hazel  and  Guy,  Jr. ;  Rolph,  has  one  child, 
Marie;  and  Gladys,  married  Leslie  Ernst.  Mrs.  Jacob  N.  Hilton  died  in 
September,  1922. 

Mr.  Hilton  is  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  and  he  is  a  sub- 
stantial and  highly  respected  citizen  of  McLean  County. 


Henry  A.  Welch,  retired,  has  been  a  leading  farmer  of  McLean 
County  for  many  years.  He  was  born  in  Downs  Township,  Sept.  3,  1872, 
the  son  of  James  A.  and  Myrtle  Jane  (Bishop)  Welch. 

James  A.  Welch  was  a  native  of  Downs  Township,  McLean  County, 
born  Jan.  6,  1849,  and  the  son  of  Henry  and  Minerva  (Caldwell)  Welch, 
the  former  a  native  of  Pennsylvania  and  the  latter  of  Ohio.  Henry 
Welch  came  to  Illinois  when  he  was  a  young  man  and  located  on  160  acres 
of  land  in  McLean  County.  He  became  a  prosperous  farmer  and  at  the 
time  of  his  death  owned  1,400  acres  of  land.  Mr.  Welch  died  at  the  age 
of  65  years  and  his  wife  died  at  the  age  of  81  years.  James  A.  Welch  fol- 
lowed farming  during  his  entire  life  and  was  well  known  as  a  stockman. 
He  was  married  on  Nov.  23,  1871,  to  Myrtle  Jane  Bishop,  a  daughter  of 
James  Bishop,  a  native  of  Ohio.  Mr.  Welch  died  Nov.  14,  1922,  shortly 
after  having  celebrated  his  golden  wedding  anniversary.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
James  A.  Welch  had  four  children,  as  follows:  Florence,  married  J.  O. 
Killion,  lives  at  Bloomington;  Mary  is  the  wife  of  Frank  Stubblefield, 

(35) 


578  History  of  McLean  County 

lives  at  Bloomington ;  Nellie  is  the  wife  of  Frank  Cavender;  and  Henry 
A.,  the  subject  of  this  sketch. 

Henry  A.  Welch  was  educated  in  the  early  day  schools  of  McLean 
County  and  began  life  farming  on  the  home  place.  He  owns  232  acres 
of  well  improved  land  in  Downs  Township,  which  he  now  rents.  Mr. 
Welch  has  lived  retired  at  Bloomington  since  1904. 

On  Feb.  20,  1895,  Mr.  Welch  was  married  to  Miss  Jeanette  Craig,  a 
native  of  Illinois,  born  Sept.  23,  1875,  and  the  daughter  of  Alexander  and 
Sallie  B.  (Campbell)  Craig.  Mr.  Craig  served  throughout  the  Civil  War 
and  died  Feb.  12,  1892,  and  his  wife  died  May  21,  1887.  They  were  the 
parents  of  four  children,  as  follows:  Elizabeth;  Mrs.  Welch;  John  A., 
deceased;  and  Ray  M.,  lives  at  Bloomington.  To  Henry  A.  and  Jeannette 
(Craig)  Welch  one  child  was  born,  Lcrin  J.,  born  Dec.  1,  1895,  married 
Rue  Tyler,  a  native  of  Springfield,  111.  He  lives  at  Bloomington  and  is  a 
bookkeper  in  the  McLean  County  Bank.  To  Lorin  J.  Welch  and  wife  two 
children  were  born:    James  Tyler  and  John  Lorin. 

Henry  A.  Welch  is  a  Republican,  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Church, 
and  belongs  to  the  Masonic  Lodge.  He  is  one  of  the  dependable  and  highly 
respected  citizens  of  his  community. 


Arthur  J.  Graves,  the  well-known  superintendent  of  the  Bloomington 
Cemetery  and  florist  of  Bloomington,  was  born  in  McLean  County  in  1863, 
and  is  a  son  of  Linus  and  Virginia  F.  (Hayden)  Graves.  His  father  was  a 
native  of  Brookfield,  Vt.,  where  his  birth  occurred  in  1815,  and  his  mother 
in  Hopkinsville,  Ky.,  in  1829. 

The  Graves  family  is  of  English  descent,  and  traces  its  genealogy 
in  America  back  to  Thomas  Graves,  who  landed  on  the  shores  of  the  new 
world  in  1645.  Linus  Graves  came  from  Vermont  to  McLean  County  in 
1840,  his  future  wife  having  arrived  with  her  parents  in  1836.  Their 
marriage  took  place  in  McLean  County  in  1847.  Linus  Graves  was  the 
organizer  of  the  Bloomington  Cemetery  Association,  of  which  he  was  the 
superintendent  for  many  years.  He  was  a  public  spirited  man  and  a 
personal  friend  of  Abraham  Lincoln.  In  politics,  he  was  an  earnest  and 
active  Republican,  although  not  an  aspirant  for  public  office.  He  departed 
this  life  Jan.  18,  1897. 


History  of  McLean  County  579 

In  boyhood  Arthur  J.  Graves  attended  public  school  and  later  at- 
tended Illinois  Wesleyan  University.  After  finishing  his  studies  he  went 
to  Colorado,  taking  up  a  claim  on  which  he  remained  two  years.  He  then 
went  to  New  York  City,  where  he  was  engaged  with  the  Charles  Frohman 
Stock  Company  for  six  years.  In  1896  he  returned  to  Bloomington  and 
was  elected  to  his  present  position  as  superintendent  of  the  Bloomington 
Cemetery,  and  also  of  the  Maplewood  Greenhouse.  Mr.  Graves  now  owns 
five  large  greenhouses  in  McLean  County. 

On  March  20,  1899,  Arthur  J.  Graves  was  married  to  Miss  Katherine 
Jacoby,  a  native  of  Bloomington  and  the  daughter  of  Peter  and  Susan 
Jacoby,  natives,  respectively,  of  Germany  and  Terre  Haute,  Ind.  They 
were  early  settlers  of  Bloomington  where  Mr.  Jacoby  and  his  brother, 
Jacob,  were  engaged  in  the  grocery  business ;  the  latter  served  on  the 
board  of  education  of  Bloomington  for  20  years.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Graves 
the  following  children  were  born;  Esther  Virginia,  now  the  wife  of  Ed- 
ward S.  Brown,  residing  in  Benjaminville,  and  Ruth,  now  a  school 
teacher  in  Lexington  High  School,  Lexington,  111. 

In  politics  Mr.  Graves  is  a  Republican  and  he  belongs  to  the  Elks 
Lodge  and  is  a  33d  degree  Mason.  He  has  a  wide  acquaintance  in  Mc- 
Lean County  and  is  recognized  as  one  of  the  representative  and  substan- 
tial citizens  of  the  community. 


Moses  Blair,  deceased,  was  a  prominent  pioneer  farmer  and  stock- 
man of  McLean  County.  He  was  born  in  Ireland  and  came  to  the  United 
States  when  he  was  a  young  man,  locating  at  Jacksonville,  111.,  where  he 
remained  five  years.  Mr.  Blair  then  came  to  Bloomington  and  purchased 
160  acres  of  land  in  Blue  Mound  Township,  which  he  improved.  He  was 
extensively  engaged  in  stock  raising  and  specialized  in  the  breeding  of 
Shorthorn  cattle  and  Poland  China  hogs.  Mr.  Blair  took  an  active  part 
in  the  progress  of  the  community  and  the  development  of  the  county. 
He  died  in  1885. 

On  Sept.  30,  1857,  Mr.  Blair  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Bridget 
Murphy,  a  native  of  Ireland,  born  Jan.  16,  1839,  and  the  daughter  of 
James  and  Sarah  (Tobin)  Murphy.  At  an  early  date  Mr.  Murphy  came 
to  this  country,  making  the  trip  in  a  sailing  vessel  which  required  six 
weeks.     He  became  a  successful  farmer  and  stockman  of  McLean  County, 


580  History  of  McLean  County 

and  owned  160  acres  of  land.  Mr.  Murphy  died  in  1866,  and  his  wife  died 
in  1840.  They  were  the  parents  of  five  children,  as  follows:  Philip,  ad- 
dress unknown;  Mary,  married  John  Evans,  both  deceased;  Mrs.  Blair; 
Sarah,  married  Michael  Cleary,  both  deceased;  and  Michael,  who  died 
while  the  family  were  making  the  voyage  from  Ireland  to  America. 

To  Moses  and  Bridget  (Murphy)  Blair,  fourteen  children  were  born, 
as  follows:  John,  deceased;  Sarah  Jane,  married  Edward  Sacry,  lives  at 
Holden,  111. ;  Mary  Ann,  the  widow  of  Stephen  Spencer,  who  died  Nov.  15, 
1895,  and  she  lives  with  her  mother  at  Bloomington;  William,  a  grain 
buyer,  lives  at  Cropsey,  111. ;  Elizabeth,  died  at  the  age  of  ten  years ; 
Thomas,  a  farmer,  lives  in  Dawson  Township,  McLean  County;  Ella,  the 
widow  of  Peter  Hopt,  who  died  in  1917,  and  she  resides  in  Bloomington; 
Frank,  a  farmer,  lives  with  his  brother  Thomas,  in  Dawson  Township, 
McLean  County;  Annabel,  and  Rosabel,  twins,  died  in  infancy;  George 
a  farmer,  lives  in  Ohio ;  Joseph,  a  farmer,  lives  in  Blue  Mound  Township, 
McLean  County ;  and  Alice,  died  in  infancy,  and  Benjamin,  deceased.  Mrs. 
Blair  has  36  grandchildren  and  38  great-grandchildren.  She  lives  with 
her  daughters  at  213  Seminary  Avenue,  Bloomington. 

In  politics  Moses  Blair  was  a  Republican  and  he  was  a  member  of  the 
Christian  Church.  The  Blair  family  is  one  of  the  prominent  families  of 
McLean  County,  and  Mrs.  Blair  is  well  known  and  highly  respected  in 
the  community. 


Sidney  B.  Bean,  a  locomotive  engineer  on  the  Chicago  &  Alton  Rail- 
road since  September,  1887,  has  lived  in  Bloomington  since  that  time.  He 
was  born  at  Marshall,  Mich.,  July  7,  1863,  and  is  the  son  of  Sidney  and 
Sarah  (Morris)  Bean. 

Sidney  Bean,  a  native  of  Michigan,  lost  his  life  during  the  Civil  War 
while  serving  with  a  Michigan  company.  His  wife,  who  was  born  in  Syra- 
cuse, N.  Y.,  died  in  Bloomington  in  1886.  There  were  two  children  in  the 
Bean  family:  Mary,  the  widow  of  William  Hall,  formerly  an  engineer 
on  the  Chicago  &  Alton  Railroad;  and  Sidney  B.,  the  subject  of  this  sketch. 

Sidney  B.  Bean  spent  his  boyhood  at  Marshall,  Mich.,  and  began  rail- 
roading at  the  age  of  17  years  with  the  Chicago  &  Alton  Railroad,  in 
whose  employ  he  has  remained  continuously.     Mr.  Bean  has  had  the  run 


History  of  McLean  County  581 

known  as  No.  7  and  2  for  the  past  21  years.  This  is  one  of  the  road's 
limited  passenger  trains. 

Mr.  Bean  was  married  first  to  Miss  Kate  Mollenbrock,  and  to  this 
union  two  children  were  born:  Clarence,  born  in  1896,  lives  in  Los  An- 
geles, Cal.,  is  a  veteran  of  the  World  War;  and  Theodore,  born  in  1898, 
connected  with  the  valuation  department  of  the  New  York  Central  Rail- 
road at  Cleveland,  Ohio,  also  a  veteran  of  the  World  War.  Mrs.  Bean 
died  in  1903,  and  on  July  2,  1908,  Mr.  Bean  was  married  to  Miss  Effie 
Detree,  a  native  of  Tunkhannock,  Pa.,  born  July  2,  1874,  and  the  daughter 
of  Moses  W.  and  Lucy  (Billings)  Detree,  natives  of  Pennsylvania.  Mr. 
Detree,  who  served  throughout  the  Civil  War  with  Company  F,  Second 
Pennsylvania  Cavalry,  died  at  Pittston,  Pa.,  Feb.  25,  1904.  His  wife 
resides  with  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bean  in  Bloomington.  She  is  80  years  old  and 
is  a  remarkably  smart  woman  of  her  age.  Mrs.  Bean  has  one  brother, 
Edgar  Billings  Detree,  also  an  engineer  on  the  Chicago  &  Alton  Railroad. 
A  sister,  Jennie  May,  is  deceased. 

Mr.  Bean  is  capable,  energetic,  and  during  his  long  period  of  service 
with  the  Chicago  &  Alton  Railroad  has  established  an  excellent  reputation. 


John  Jefferies,  deceased,  was  a  well  known  and  highly  respected  citi- 
zen of  McLean  County.  He  was  born  on  a  farm  in  McLean  County,  April 
26,  1863,  the  son  of  Philip  and  Isabel  (Morrison)  Jefferies. 

Philip  Jefferies  was  born  in  England  and  his  wife  was  a  native  of 
Ireland.  They  were  among  the  earliest  settlers  of  Pennsylvania,  and 
later  moved  to  Ohio  and  thence  to  Illinois,  settling  in  McLean  County. 
Mr.  Jefferies  owned  140  acres  of  land  which  he  improved  and  for  many 
years  he  was  a  leading  stockman  of  the  county.  He  died  Dec.  24,  1907, 
and  his  wife  died  April  14,  1895.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jefferies  were  the  parents 
of  eight  children,  as  follows:  Mary,  William  and  Jane,  deceased;  Eva, 
the  widow  of  John  L.  Scott,  lives  in  Nebraska;  John,  the  subject  of  this 
sketch;  Charles,  a  farmer,  lives  in  Minnesota;  George,  deceased  and  one 
child  died  in  infancy. 

John  Jefferies  grew  up  on  his  father's  farm,  and  received  his  educa- 
tion in  the  district  school.  He  rented  land  for  several  years  and  at  the 
time  of  his  death,  June  3,  1914,  owned  400  acres  of  good  farm  land  in 


582  History  of  McLean  County 

Blue  Mound  Township.  Mr.  Jefferies  was  a  successful  breeder  of  Short- 
horn cattle  and  was  widely  known  throughout  the  county. 

On  March  4,  1886,  Mr.  Jefferies  was  married  to  Miss  Estella  Johnson, 
a  native  of  Lexington,  McLean  County,  born  June  6,  1867,  the  daugh- 
ter of  William  and  Elizabeth  (Sipe)  Johnson.  Mr.  Johnson  came  to  Illi- 
nois from  Knox  County,  Ohio,  and  was  a  successful  farmer  of  McLean 
County.  He  served  throughout  the  Civil  War  in  the  94th  Illinois  Volun- 
teer Infantry.  Mr.  Johnson  was  a  Republican,  a  member  of  the  Methodist 
Church,  and  belonged  to  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic.  He  died  Jan. 
15,  1912,  and  his  wife  died  Oct.  23,  1914.  They  were  the  parents  of  five 
children,  as  follows:  Mrs.  Jefferies;  Sherman,  deceased;  Minnie,  married 
William  Greenfield,  lives  in  Indiana ;  Benjamin,  a  farmer,  lives  at  Bluffton, 
Ind. ;  and  one  child  died  in  infancy. 

To  John  and  Estella  (Johnson)  Jefferies  six  children  were  born,  as 
follows:  Ira,  born  Jan.  20,  1887,  a  farmer,  living  in  Minnesota;  Perry, 
born  July  2,  1889,  died  Nov.  14,  1918;  Clarence,  born  Nov.  4,  1895,  is  a 
veteran  of  the  World  War,  having  served  from  May  1,  1917,  until  May  1, 
1919,  seven  months  of  which  were  spent  overseas;  Earl,  born  July  28, 
1897,  a  farmer,  lives  at  Cooksville,  111. ;  Bessie,  born  June  28,  1899,  lives 
with  her  mother  in  Bloomington;  and  Delmer,  born  Feb.  23,  1901,  a  farmer, 
lives  at  Bluffton,  Ind.    Mrs.  Jefferies  has  four  grandchildren. 

John  Jefferies  was  a  Republican  and  served  as  road  commissioner 
and  school  director.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Church.  Mr. 
Jefferies  was  a  man  of  energy,  strong  purpose  and  industry.  In  his 
business  affairs  he  was  upright  and  fair  and  as  a  citizen  he  upheld  high 
standards. 


Edward  S.  Downs,  a  locomotive  engineer  on  the  Chicago  &  Alton 
Railroad,  was  born  in  Bloomington,  in  1868,  and  is  a  son  of  James  S.  and 
Emma  Elizabeth  (Lamb)  Downs. 

James  S.  Downs  was  born  in  England,  Dec.  25,  1842,  and  came  to 
this  country  when  he  was  a  young  man,  locating  in  Buffalo,  N.  Y.  In 
1867  he  came  to  Bloomington  and  was  employed  as  an  engineer  by  the 
Chicago  &  Alton  Railroad.  In  1895  Mr.  Downs'  train  was  wrecked  at 
Gardner,  111.,  and  his  fireman  was  killed.  As  a  reward  for  his  bravery  in 
remaining  at  the  throttle,  Mr.  Downs  was  presented  with  a  purse  of 
$125  which  he  declined  to  take,  but  accepted  it  for  the  fireman's  widow. 


History  of  McLean  County  583 

Later  some  of  the  passengers  on  the  ill-fated  train  presented  Mr.  Downs 
with  a  gold  medal.  He  died  Dec.  23,  1904,  and  his  wife  died  March  30, 
1920.  They  were  the  parents  of  five  children:  Edward  S.,  the  subject  of 
this  sketch ;  Frank,  lives  in  Chicago ;  Nellie,  married  Francis  Morris,  lives 
in  California;  Lee,  lives  in  Bloomington,  and  Roy,  lives  in  Chicago. 

Edward  S.  Downs  attended  school  in  Bloomington  and  began  work- 
ing for  the  railroad  when  he  was  a  young  man.  In  1897  he  was  promoted 
to  engineer  and  for  a  number  of  years  has  been  on  the  north  end  out  of 
Bloomington. 

On  June  23,  1897,  Mr.  Downs  was  married  to  Miss  Jennie  Buzzard, 
who  was  born  at  Newville,  Ohio,  Jan.  7,  1866,  the  daughter  of  B.  D.  and 
Arminta  (Brown)  Buzzard.  Mr.  Buzzard  was  born  in  Fort  Wayne  County. 
Pa.,  and  served  throughout  the  Civil  war.  He  died  March  6,  1900,  and 
his  wife  died  Dec.  29,  1921.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Downs  two  children  have 
been  born,  Ada,  and  Harold,  both  at  home. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Downs  are  members  of  the  United  Brethren  Church 
and  are  highly  esteemed  in  Bloomington. 


Peter  E.  Murray,  a  well  known  citizen  of  Bloomington,  was  born  in 
Pennsylvania,  Nov.  10,  1868,  and  is  the  son  of  Michael  and  Jane  (Proud- 
foot)  Murray. 

Michael  Murray,  a  native  of  Ireland,  came  to  this  country  in  1861. 
locating  in  Pennsylvania.  In  1873  he  removed  to  Kansas  and  later  to 
Washington  where  he  died.  His  wife,  a  native  of  Scotland,  is  also  de- 
ceased. There  were  four  children  in  the  Murray  family;  Mary,  married 
James  McNulty,  both  deceased;  Peter  E.,  the  subject  of  this  sketch;  John, 
and  James,  deceased. 

Peter  E.  Murray  received  his  education  in  the  schools  of  Kansas  and 
his  first  business  association  was  with  the  Big  Four  Railroad  as  clerk. 
Three  years  later  he  entered  the  employ  of  the  Chicago,  Burlington  & 
Quincy  Railroad  as  brakeman,  and  was  later  employed  by  the  Rock  Island 
Railroad.  In  1900  Mr.  Murray  entered  the  service  of  the  Chicago  & 
Alton  Railroad  as  a  conductor.    He  lives  at  208  Union  Street. 

On  Nov.  18,  1900,  Mr.  Murray  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Agnes  Skelley,  a  native  of  Davenport,  Iowa,  and  a  daughter  of  John  and 
Elizabeth  Skelley,  natives  of  Pennsylvania,  and  now  deceased.    There  were 


584  History  of  McLean  County 

ten  children  in  the  Skelley  family,  as  follows:  Daniel,  deceased;  Jerome, 
lives  in  Illinois;  Mary,  the  widow  of  Jerry  Cunningham,  lives  at  Rock 
Island,  111. ;  Margaret,  deceased ;  Catherine,  deceased ;  one  child  died  in 
infancy ;  John,  lives  at  Pasadena,  Cal. ;  Rose,  married  William  Salzman, 
lives  at  East  Moline,  111. ;  Elizabeth,  the  widow  of  Charles  Humphrey,  lives 
at  Chicago,  and  Mrs.  Murray.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Murray  four  children  have 
been  born:  Jennie,  Edward  and  Elizabeth,  at  home,  and  Eugene,  who  is 
studying  for  the  priesthood  at  Washington,  D.  C. 

Mr.  Murray  and  his  family  are  members  of  the  Catholic  Church,  and 
are  highly  esteemed  in  their  community. 


Theodore  A.  Braley. — Who  can  estimate  the  influence  of  a  man  who 
was  for  38  years  actively  connected  with  the  daily  newspapers  of  his  com- 
munity, as  reporter,  editor  and  manager  of  their  editorial  policies.  If  any 
such  estimate  can  be  accurately  made,  then  one  can  set  forth  the  value  of 
the  work  and  worth  of  Theodore  A.  Braley,  for  almost  a  generation  an 
active  writer  and  worker  in  the  newspaper  field  of  Bloomington,  most  of 
the  time  as  editor  of  the  Evening  Bulletin.  Mr.  Braley's  death  occurred 
on  March  19,  1919,  when  he  expired  very  suddenly  while  on  a  visit  in 
Chicago.  He  and  Mrs.  Braley  had  gone  to  the  city  for  a  short  stay  for 
recreation  and  were  stopping  at  the  Blackstone  hotel.  The  fatal  attack 
came  on  in  the  night  and  after  only  a  few  hours  of  mortal  struggle  the 
end  came  peacefully. 

Theodore  A.  Braley  could  be  truly  said  to  be  a  self-made  man.  He 
came  up  from  the  ranks  by  his  own  efforts  until  he  became  a  recognized 
leader  in  the  city  of  Bloomington,  not  alone  by  the  commanding  influ- 
ence of  a  strong  editorial  writer,  but  by  his  personal  aggression  and  pub- 
lic spirit  in  everything  which  he  believed  to  be  for  the  best  interests  of 
the  community. 

Mr.  Braley  was  born  in  the  state  of  New  York  in  the  little  town  of 
Oneonta,  in  the  year  1860.  He  was  therefore  in  his  59th  year  when  he 
was  taken  away,  and  his  life  was  suddenly  ended  while  he  was  appar- 
ently in  the  prime  of  his  vigor  of  middle  life.  Mr.  Braley  came  to  Bloom- 
ington when  a  mere  boy  to  visit  with  relatives,  and  he  afterward  made  this 
city  and  county  his  home.  He  attended  the  public  schools  and  after  com- 
pleting the  course  in  the  grades  he  attended  and  graduated  from  the 


THEODORE  A.  BRALET. 


QFTHS 


History  of  McLean  County  585 

Bloomington  High  School  when  he  was  but  16  years  of  age.  He  tried 
clerking  in  a  store  for  a  short  time,  but  that  work  did  not  appeal  to  his 
active  mind,  and  he  then  took  up  his  first  work  as  a  newspaper  reporter  on 
the  old  Sunday  Eye,  which  was  then  conducted  by  George  L.  Hutchin. 
After  serving  his  apprenticeship  on  the  staff  of  the  Sunday  Eye,  he  first 
entered  the  field  of  daily  journalism  as  reporter  and  later  city  editor  of 
the  Daily  Leader,  a  newspaper  which  is  no  longer  in  existence.  For  nine 
years  he  pursued  his  course  with  the  Leader,  and  then  his  ambition  for 
becoming  his  own  boss  was  realized  when  in  1891  he  formed  a  partner- 
ship with  James  F.  O'Donnell,  and  they  two  bought  the  plant  of  the 
Evening  Bulletin,  which  had  previously  been  published  by  Owen  Scott,  who 
had  lately  been  elected  to  congress.  Mr.  Braley  became  the  active  man- 
ager of  the  editorial  end  of  the  Bulletin,  while  Mr.  O'Donnell  took  the 
position  of  business  manager. 

Under  the  doubly  able  management  of  these  two  men,  the  Bulletin 
soon  became  a  great  force  in  the  affairs  of  the  city.  It  grew  in  circulation 
and  popularity,  and  took  its  place  among  the  leading  daily  newspapers 
in  Illinois.    This  position  it  ever  afterward  maintained. 

Mr.  Braley  was  married  on  Jan.  18,  1882,  to  Miss  Caroline  R.  Parke, 
only  daughter  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  George  W.  Parke,  her  father  being  one  of 
the  best  known  and  most  highly  esteemed  of  the  earlier  merchants  of 
this  city.  Mr.  Braley  was  then  just  entering  upon  the  most  active  stages 
of  his  newspaper  career,  and  for  over  30  years  afterward  as  he  grew  in 
prestige  and  influence  in  his  sphere  of  labor,  Mrs.  Braley  was  ever  his 
most  devoted  admirer,  and  assisted  him  in  the  upward  climb.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Braley  made  their  home  at  the  family  residence  of  Mr.  Parke,  and 
the  parents  lived  with  them  during  their  declining  years  and  until  their 
deaths.  After  they  were  gone,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Braley  continued  ever  after- 
ward to  reside  in  this  fine  old  home,  which  was  one  of  the  best  and  most 
comfortable  in  Bloomington.     Mrs.  Braley  still  resides  there. 

The  body  of  Mr.  Braley  was  brought  home  to  Bloomington,  and  his 
funeral,  held  on  March  21,  at  the  home  where  he  had  lived  so  happily 
many  years.  Rev.  William  Baker,  pastor  of  St.  Matthews  Episcopal 
Church,  had  charge  of  the  services.  The  pallbearers  were  former  asso- 
ciates from  the  various  departments  of  the  Bulletin  office,  and  the  inter- 
ment was  at  the  Bloomington  cemetery.  On  the  day  before  the  funeral, 
the  Bloomington  Rotary  Club,  of  which  he  was  one  of  the  charter  mem- 
bers, passed  a  resolution  on  his  death,  in  which  is  was  stated  that  the 


586  History  of  McLean  County 

club  had  "lost  a  distinguished  member;  the  newspaper  field  one  of  its 
most  brilliant  and  able  writers;  the  community  a  respected  and  revered 
citizen ;  his  personal  friends  a  sympathetic,  broad-minded  and  kindly  man ; 
and  his  home  a  generous  and  wholesome  soul." 

Perhaps  no  truer  or  comprehensive  estimate  of  the  work  of  Mr. 
Braley  in  the  newspaper  field  could  be  made  than  to  reproduce  the  state- 
ments concerning  him  which  were  made  by  a  writer  in  the  Pantagraph 
at  the  time  of  his  death.     This  writer  said  in  part: 

"Mr.  Braley  occupied  a  unique  position  in  the  community,  from  many 
standpoints.  As  an  editor  he  had  a  style  and  distinctive  method  of  treat- 
ment of  topics  of  the  day  which  won  him  a  large  clientele  of  readers  who 
followed  his  journalistic  work  with  avidity  and  never  lagging  interest. 
He  was  a  supreme  paragrapher,  and  had  the  knack  of  expressing  in  a  few 
cogent  sentences  sentiments  and  opinions  which  could  not  be  better  made 
known  in  columns  of  solemn  discussion.  He  nearly  always  waved  aside 
the  more  serious  aspect  of  a  subject,  unless  it  were  one  of  vital  concern 
to  the  community,  and  with  a  well-turned  quip  would  set  forth  his  point 
of  view  which  at  once  disarmed  opponents  and  pleased  friends.  The  Bul- 
letin had  been  a  democratic  organ  from  the  time  of  its  establishment,  and 
under  the  editorship  of  Mr.  Braley  he  had  followed  the  traditional  policy 
of  party  loyalty,  although  in  a  manner  all  his  own  at  times  He  took  part 
in  politics  simply  because  of  his  love  of  the  game,  and  never  manifested 
the  slightest  personal  ambition  for  office  during  the  long  time  in  which 
he  had  acted  as  editor  of  the  party  paper.  Personally,  Mr.  Braley  was 
of  an  exceedingly  genial  and  sunshiny  disposition.  He  never  lost  his 
pleasant  exterior  no  matter  under  what  weight  of  pressure  of  serious 
affairs.  He  was  big  hearted  and  generous,  and  many  an  unfortunate  has 
had  him  to  thank  for  a  lift  over  some  rough  place  in  the  road.  Mr.  Braley 
was  a  lover  of  the  social  side  of  life,  and  that  was  the  reason  for  his  lead- 
ership in  social  affairs  for  several  years.  None  of  the  great  social  gather- 
ings of  Bloomington  in  the  last  20  years  would  have  seemed  complete 
without  his  presence." 

On  the  morning  after  his  death,  the  editorial  columns  of  the  Panta- 
graph contained  the  following  tribute  to  the  work  of  the  editor  of  the  only 
competing  newspaper  in  the  community:  "In  the  passing  of  Mr.  Braley 
the  editorial  side  of  the  newspaper  field  loses  its  oldest  writer  in  point  of 
active  and  continuous  service.  For  more  than  forty  years  the  people  of 
this  community  have  read  the  productions  of  his  facile  pen,  first  as  re- 


History  of  McLean  County  587 

porter  of  the  daily  news,  later  as  city  and  telegraph  editor  and  finally  as 
editorial  writer  of  the  Daily  Bulletin.  Mr.  Braley  was  justly  recognized 
as  a  writer  of  unusual  talents.  He  was  possessed  of  a  distinctive  style 
and  was  master  of  the  editorial  paragraph.  He  seldom  commented  upon 
a  subject  at  length,  but  expressed  his  thought  in  the  fewest  possible 
words  and  frequently  with  a  humorous  turn  that  was  highly  original.  He 
also  excelled  in  his  editorial  appreciations  of  departed  personal  friends 
and  prominent  citizens.  Personally  Mr.  Braley  was  most  likeable.  Al- 
though modest  and  retiring,  he  was  intensely  human,  with  a  broad  toler- 
ance and  sympathy  for  the  frailties  of  human  nature.  He  was  not  of 
those  who  take  themselves  too  seriously,  and  his  philosophy  of  life  was 
cheerful  to  the  end.  Bloomington  loses  a  lovable  character  in  the  death 
of  Theodore  A.  Braley." 

Anonymously,  one  of  his  co-workers  in  the  newspaper  field  penned 
the  following  eloquent  lines  concerning  Mr.  Braley  at  the  time  of  his  pass- 
ing away:  "To  the  workers  in  the  Bloomington  newspaper  field,  the 
death  of  Theodore  Braley  comes  with  a  shock  that  is  even  more  acute, 
if  possible,  than  to  the  other  friends  of  the  community.  Associated  as 
he  has  been  for  30  years  with  his  co-writers  in  the  daily  recordings  of 
the  happenings  of  the  city  and  outside  world,  he  has  been  regarded  as 
the  dean  of  his  profession.  Gifted  with  a  pen  far  out  of  the  ordinary, 
his  talent  was  widely  recognized.  His  satire  was  polished ;  his  critiques 
gently  swathed ;  his  observations  never  envenomed.  His  writing  perfectly 
replicated  his  disposition.  Anger  was  in  him  an  unknown  quantity.  He 
would  mollify  the  belligerent  with  a  smile.  A  cataclysm  found  him  un- 
ruffled. His  poise  was  never  perturbed.  The  world  rolls  on  and  most  of 
us  will  speedily  be  forgotten  after  we  are  gone.  But  this  can  not  be  true 
of  Theodore  Braley,  at  least  to  the  many  who  knew  him  intimately  and 
appreciated  him  at  his  full  worth  as  a  true  friend.  His  impress  upon  the 
community  will  be  lasting.  Few  have  played  so  prominent  a  part  in  its 
development.  Not  only  in  the  newspaper  field,  but  in  the  commercial, 
club  and  social  life,  he  has  been  a  lofty  figure,  a  man  among  men.  There 
will  be  poignant  grief  in  many  hearts  at  his  passing.  The  degree  of  sor- 
row can  be  no  greater  than  that  experienced  by  his  associates  in  the  jour- 
nalistic field,  who,  perhaps,  knew  him  best.  Thirty'  is  written,  alas,  too 
soon.  'Brad'  has  gone.  He  has  ventured  upon  the  common  hazard  that 
we  all  must  run,  but  we  can  say  with  Browning,  that  'Death  upon  his  face 
is  rather  shine  than  shade,  a  tender  shine  by  looks  beloved  made.'  " 


588  History  of  McLean  County 

George  W.  Parke. — One  of  the  men  who  had  a  direct  and  widespread 
influence  in  what  might  be  called  the  secondary  stage  of  the  development 
of  McLean  County  and  its  county  seat,  was  George  W.  Parke,  one  of  the 
pioneer  merchants  and  bankers.  The  only  living  descendant  of  Mr.  Parke 
is  Mrs.  Caroline  Parke  Braley,  wife  of  the  late  Theodore  A.  Braley,  who 
was  for  many  years  editor  of  the  Bloomington  Daily  Bulletin.  Mrs.  Bra- 
ley is  making  her  home  in  the  large  house  at  Lee  and  Monroe  streets,  in 
which  her  parents  resided  for  many  years  and  in  which  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bra- 
ley made  their  home  from  the  time  of  their  marriage  to  the  death  of  Mr. 
Braley  in  1919. 

George  W.  Parke  was  a  native  of  Chester  County,  Pa.,  and  was 
born  in  the  year  1815.  He  remained  a  resident  of  his  native  place  until 
he  had  grown  to  man's  estate  and  had  received  his  elemental  education. 
His  first  trip  to  the  west  was  in  1837,  and  he  stayed  in  this  part  of  the 
country  for  three  years,  after  which  he  returned  to  the  east.  In  1851  he 
again  came  to  Bloomington  and  at  that  time  he  embarked  in  the  lumber 
business  and  the  manufacture  of  furniture.  His  furniture  factory  grew 
to  considerable  proportions  and  its  business  flourished,  but  a  fire  which 
destroyed  the  plant  proved  to  be  a  great  calamity  both  to  its  owner  and 
to  the  city.  Bloomington  was  at  that  time  growing  rapidly,  and  Mr. 
Parke's  trade  in  lumber  increased  to  prosperous  proportion.  He  built  a 
large  number  of  houses  to  provide  for  the  increasing  population,  and  many 
of  these  remain  to  this  day  as  evidence  of  his  honesty  of  workmanship 
and  the  good  quality  of  the  materials  which  he  used.  He  built  the  first 
three  story  structure  ever  erected  on  the  west  side  of  the  public  square. 
Kersey  Fell  had  donated  the  ground  for  any  one  who  would  erect  a  three- 
story  brick  building,  and  Mr.  Parke  accepted  the  offer.  For  about  ten 
years  Mr.  Parke  engaged  in  the  grocery  and  provision  business,  in  which 
he  also  prospered.  He  sold  out  this  line  of  business  in  1865  and  retired 
from  active  commercial  pursuits.  However,  he  became  one  of  the  princi- 
pal stockholders  and  an  officer  in  the  People's  Bank,  which  he  assisted  in 
founding.  He  was  one  of  the  bank's  directors  for  many  years,  and  spent 
most  of  his  time  in  the  offices  there  during  the  later  years  of  his  life. 

A  brother  of  George  W.  Parke,  and  another  man  identified  with  the 
history  of  Bloomington  as  a  professional  man  was  the  late  Dr.  Charles  R. 
Parke,  who  practiced  his  profession  in  the  county  seat  for  a  half  century. 
Dr.  Parke,  like  his  brother,  was  a  native  of  Chester  County,  Pa.,  and  was 
born  on  June  26,  1825.     The  brothers  were  sons  of  George  W.  and  Mary 


History  of  McLean  County  589 

(Ross)  Parke,  who  had  both  been  born  in  Chester  County.  The  father 
of  these  two  brothers  died  in  1860  and  the  mother  in  1866.  Dr.  Parke  was 
the  seventh  child  of  his  parents,  and  he  remained  at  home  until  he  was 
18  years  of  age.  He  had  received  his  rudimentary  education  and  at  this 
age  he  entered  Hoops  Academy.  He  began  the  study  of  medicine  in  1844 
and  received  his  degree  from  the  University  of  Pennsylvania  in  1847.  He 
commenced  the  practice  of  his  profession  in  Delaware  County,  Pa.,  and  in 
1849  he  made  a  trip  overland  to  California  as  physician  for  the  Como 
Emigrant  Company.  In  the  winter  of  1850-51  he  returned  to  Illinois  by 
way  of  Nicaragua,  long  before  the  Panama  Canal  had  been  dreamed  of. 
He  located  in  Bloomington  and  practiced  his  profession  here  from  1852 
to  1855.  In  the  latter  year  he  went  to  Russia  as  surgeon  in  the  Russian 
army  during  the  Crimean  war.  After  the  conclusion  of  peace  he  trav- 
eled in  Europe,  visiting  many  hospitals  and  gaining  added  skill  along  pro- 
fessional lines.  In  the  fall  of  1857  Dr.  Parke  returned  and  again  located 
in  Bloomington  to  resume  practice.  From  the  year  1869  to  1873,  owing 
to  his  wife's  failing  health,  he  went  south  to  Arkansas  and  engaged  in 
cotton  growing.  He  then  returned  to  Bloomington  for  the  third  time  and 
continued  in  active  practice  until  his  final  retirement.  He  spent  his  de- 
clining years  with  his  daughter  at  Louisville,  where  he  died.  Dr.  Parke's 
wife  had  formerly  been  Mrs.  Lucy  Keith,  and  they  were  married  in  Win- 
chester, Ky.,  on  Oct.  5,  1865.  Mrs.  Parke  preceded  her  husband  in  death. 
Dr.  Parke  was  largely  instrumental  in  founding  of  St.  Joseph's  hos- 
pital in  Bloomington,  and  was  for  many  years  the  head  of  the  surgical 
staff  of  the  institution. 


J.  W.  Prather,  a  well  known  locomotive  engineer  with  the  Chicago  & 
Alton  Railroad  at  Bloomington,  is  a  native  of  Indiana.  He  was  born  Aug. 
18,  1865,  and  is  the  son  of  John  C.  and  Elizabeth  (Spurgeon)  Prather. 

John  C.  Prather  was  an  early  settler  of  McLean  County  and  owned 
320  acres  of  land.  He  served  throughout  the  Civil  War  and  died  in  1904. 
His  wife  died  in  1918.  They  were  the  parents  of  four  children,  as  fol- 
lows: Mary,  the  widow  of  Albert  Hill,  lives  in  Indiana;  Martha,  married 
W.  H.  Whitlach,  lives  in  Indiana;  Anna,  married  D.  H.  Combs,  a  retired 
farmer,  lives  in  Jackson  County,  Ind. ;  and  J.  W.,  the  subject  of  this  sketch. 

J.  W.  Prather  received  his  education  in  the  schools  of  Indiana  and 
started  railroading  at  an  early  age  with  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad.    After 


590  History  of  McLean  County 

four  years  he  entered  the  employ  of  the  Wabash  Railroad  and  later  in 
1905  became  an  engineer  on  the  Chicago  &  Alton  Railroad,  and  is  now 
located  in  Bloomington.  He  owns  his  home  at  606i/£  North  Madison 
Street. 

Mr.  Prather  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Jessie  Sparks, 
a  native  of  Jackson  County,  Ind.,  born  Oct.  5,  1866,  and  the  daughter  of 
John  and  Grizella  (Baldwin)  Sparks,  natives  of  Pennsylvania  and  early 
settlers  of  Indiana.  Mr.  Sparks  died  April  6,  1918,  and  his  wife  died  in 
1883.  They  were  the  parents  of  nine  children,  as  follows:  one  child  died 
in  infancy;  Charlotte,  married  Martin  Davis,  both  deceased;  William  B., 
a  farmer,  lives  in  Indiana;  Virginia,  married  Ralph  Murray,  a  retired 
farmer,  lives  at  Columbus,  Ind. ;  Missouri,  married  Isaac  Jackson,  a  retired 
farmer,  lives  in  Indiana;  Mrs.  Prather;  Minnie,  married  Frank  Swingle; 
and  May,  married  Ollie  Haskett,  deceased.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Prather  two 
children  have  been  born;  George,  born  Nov.  5,  1889,  lives  at  home;  and 
Leonard,  born  May  22,  1894,  lives  in  Michigan.  He  served  throughout 
the  World  war  and  on  Dec.  15,  1919,  was  married  to  Miss  Lucy  Wash- 
burn, a  native  of  Bloomington.  They  have  two  children,  Constance  Ann, 
born  Sept.  7,  1920,  and  George  Richard,  born  April  22,  1922. 

George  Prather  is  studying  commercial  art  and  has  already  done 
some  excellent  work.  He  is  a  graduate  of  the  Meyer  Bath  School,  Art 
Department,  Chicago,  111. 

J.  W.  Prather  is  a  Republican  and  a  member  of  the  Christian  Church. 
He  is  a  competent  man  and  is  highly  esteemed  for  his  integrity  and  indus- 
try. He  is  a  member  of  Brotherhood  of  Locomotive  Engineers,  Division 
No.  19. 


B.  W.  Steele,  a  substantial  citizen  of  Bloomington,  was  born  in  North 
Carolina,  July  18,  1883,  and  is  the  son  of  Thomas  Benjamin  and  Eliza 
Caroline  (Mills)  Steele. 

Thomas  Benjamin  Steele,  now  living  retired  in  North  Carolina,  is  a 
veteran  of  the  Civil  war.  He  was  too  young  to  enlist  for  service,  but  took 
his  father's  place  in  the  army  for  a  short  time.  He  followed  farming  for 
many  years  and  was  a  successful  tobacco  raiser.  He  is  a  Republican  and 
a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church.  Mrs.  Steele  died  several  years  ago. 
They  were  the  parents  of  the  following  children :  Mollie,  deceased,  was  the 


History  of  McLean  County  591 

wife  of  T.  J.  Adkins;  Grace  A.,  lives  in  South  Carolina;  H.  T.,  lives  in 
North  Carolina;  Bessie,  the  widow  of  T.  E.  Renshaw;  Barney,  deceased; 
D.  N.,  lives  in  North  Carolina;  B.  W.,  the  subject  of  this  sketch;  Katie, 
high  school  teacher  in  North  Carolina,  and  Sudie,  married  Dr.  M.  L.  Trout- 
man,  lives  in  North  Carolina. 

B.  W.  Steele  attended  the  public  schools  of  North  Carolina  and  en- 
gaged in  the  furniture  business  when  a  young  man.  In  1909  he  came  to 
Illinois  and  settled  in  Bloomington,  where  he  entered  the  employ  of  the 
Chicago  &  Alton  Railroad.  Mr.  Steele  is  now  a  conductor  on  the  road  and 
lives  at  1201  North  Oak  Street. 

On  March  14,  1907,  Mr.  Steele  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Mary 
V.  Eagle,  a  native  of  North  Carolina,  born  July  27,  1884,  and  the  daugh- 
ter of  W.  S.  and  Mary  (Barnsley)  Eagle.  Mr.  Eagle,  a  Civil  war  veteran, 
now  lives  retired  in  North  Carolina.  His  wife  died  Feb.  1,  1916.  They 
were  the  parents  of  the  following  children:  Anna,  lives  in  North  Carolina; 
William,  lives  in  Texas;  Elizabeth,  the  widow  of  Henry  S.  King.,  lives  in 
North  Carolina;  George  F.,  lives  in  North  Carolina;  Zeb,  deceased;  Myrtle, 
married  Bell  White,  lives  in  North  Carolina;  Mrs.  Steele,  and  Raymond, 
lives  in  North  Carolina.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Steele  have  an  adopted  son,  Leon 
Oliver,  who  was  born  in  1915. 

In  politics  Mr.  Steele  is  identified  with  the  Democratic  party  and  he 
is  a  member  of  the  United  Brethren  Church.  His  wife  teaches  Sunday 
school  at  the  same  church.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Steele  have  many  friends  in 
Bloomington  and  are  highly  esteemed. 


Logan  McClurg,  one  of  the  well  known  conductors  on  the  Chicago  & 
Alton  Railroad,  is  a  native  of  McLean  County.  He  was  born  at  LeRoy, 
April  18,  1886,  and  is  a  son  of  Oliver  Perry  and  Martha  Ellen  (Wheeler) 
McClurg. 

Oliver  Perry  McClurg  was  an  early  settler  of  LeRoy,  having  come  to 
McLean  County  from  Ohio,  where  he  was  born.  He  served  throughout 
the  Civil  war  and  died  Feb.  13,  1913.  His  wife  resides  at  LeRoy  and  is 
72  years  of  age.  There  were  seven  children  in  the  McClurg  family,  as 
follows:  Nellie,  married  C.  L.  Yeo,  lives  in  Bloomington;  Pearl,  lives  at 
Clinton,   111. ;   Sheldon,   deceased ;  Edith,  married  C.   A.  Martin,   lives  in 


592  History  of  McLean  County 

Bloomington ;  Logan,  the  subject  of  this  sketch;  Dorothy,  married  A.  C. 
Dunson,  lives  in  Oklahoma,  and  Holbert,  lives  in  Bloomington. 

Logan  McClurg  attended  the  public  schools  of  LeRoy.  He  then 
entered  the  employ  of  the  Chicago  &  Alton  Railroad  as  brakeman  and  in 
1910  was  promoted  to  freight  conductor. 

On  Dec.  25,  1909,  Mr.  McClurg  was  married  to  Miss  Stella  Grace 
Fagerburg,  who  was  born  near  Chicago,  Jan.  9,  1890,  the  daughter  of 
A.  P.  and  Cora  (Kemp)  Fagerburg.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Fagerburg,  who  now 
live  retired  in  Chicago,  have  the  following  children:  Leona,  married  A.  P. 
Martin,  lives  in  Bloomington;  Leslie  and  Mabel,  deceased;  Alfred,  lives 
in  Bloomington;  Josephine,  married  Roy  Boden,  lives  in  Bloomington; 
Rev.  Frank,  Baptist  minister,  lives  at  Springfield,  Mass.,  and  Goldie,  mar- 
ried Warren  Lines,  lives  in  Bloomington.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  McClurg  two 
children  have  been  born:  Godfrey,  born  Oct.  17,  1911,  and  Wallace,  born 
April  24,  1920. 

Mr.  McClurg  is  a  Republican  and  he  and  his  family  are  members  of 
the  Methodist  Church. 


Dr.  William  Hill. — No  record  of  McLean  County  would  be  complete 
for  any  period'  without  an  adequate  reference  to  the  life  and  work  of  Dr. 
William  Hill,  one  of  the  great  surgeons  of  his  day,  a  citizen  always  alive 
to  public  interest,  and  a  man  of  broad  information  and  patriotic  impulses. 
Not  alone  in  professional  life,  but  also  in  civic  and  governmental  activi- 
ties he  impressed  his  personality  upon  his  generation  and  the  after 
generations. 

Dr.  Hill  was  a  native  of  Butler  County,  Ohio,  where  he  was  born  March 
12,  1829.  After  attaining  his  young  manhood  he  read  medicine  in  the 
office  of  Dr.  J.  W.  Merritt  at  Indianapolis,  and  during  the  winters  of 
1849,  '51,  '52  and  '53  he  attended  lectures  at  LaPorte,  Ind.,  and  at  Ann 
Arbor,  Mich.  Finally  he  graduated  from  and  received  his  degree  from 
Jefferson  Medical  College  at  Philadelphia,  in  1856.  He  first  practiced  at 
Middletown,  Ind.,  and  then  went  to  Louisville,  111.  In  1856  he  located  at 
Salem,  111.,  where  he  practiced  ten  years,  minus  the  time  when  he  was  a 
surgeon  in  the  army  during  the  Civil  War.  It  was  while  he  was  in  Salem, 
111.,  that  he  was  called  upon  to  serve  professionally  at  the  birth  of  William 
Jennings  Bryan,  who  became  one  of  the  greatest  orators  and  statesmen 


DR.    WILLIAM   HILL. 


MRS.   WILLIAM  HILL. 


OF  IKE 


History  of  McLean  County  593 

this  country  ever  knew,  and  who  was  three  times  candidate  for  president. 
Dr.  Hill  recalled  with  interest  this  episode  of  his  life  at  the  time  when  Mr. 
Bryan  first  became  prominent  in  the  public  eye. 

As  a  surgeon  in  the  48th  Illinois  Volunteers  in  the  Civil  War,  he  at- 
tained the  rank  of  major,  which  he  held  when  he  was  mustered  out. 

The  marriage  of  Dr.  Hill  to  Miss  Frances  Roache,  who  was  born  in 
Charlotte  County,  Va.,  and  a  member  of  the  "first  families  of  Virginia," 
and  a  resident  of  Salem,  111.,  took  place  in  St.  Louis,  where  the  bride  was 
visiting  with  a  sister,  on  Nov.  2,  1856.  Mrs.  Hill  survives  and  is  one  of 
the  most  esteemed  and  gracious  of  the  elderly  ladies  of  Bloomington.  There 
were  three  children,  one  of  whom,  a  son,  died  at  the  age  of  ten  years.  The 
surviving  daughters  are  Mrs.  Philip  Elkins  of  Washington,  D.  C,  and 
Mrs.  Arthur  L.  Pillsbury,  wife  of  a  well-known  architect  of  Bloomington. 

At  the  close  of  the  Civil  War,  Dr.  Hill  and  his  family  came  to  Bloom- 
ington and  located,  and  from  that  time  to  the  day  of  his  death,  March  1, 
1906,  the  doctor  was  one  of  the  leading  and  estimable  citizens  of  McLean 
County.  He  established  his  office  in  what  was  known  as  the  Hill  block, 
at  Front  and  East  streets,  just  across  the  street  from  old  Major's  Hall, 
where  Abraham  Lincoln  had  made  his  "lost  speech"  in  1856.  He  built  a 
home,  one  of  the  majestic  houses  of  the  city  in  his  day,  just  at  the  foot 
of  East  Street  and  two  blocks  from  his  office,  at  a  site  which  commanded 
a  view  of  this  well-known  street.  The  doctor  lived  in  this  home  to  his 
death,  and  the  house  is  still  the  residence  of  his  widow  and  of  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Pillsbury  and  their  daughter,  Frances,  who  was  named  for  her 
grandmother. 

No  one  who  knew  Dr.  Hill  in  life  can  forget  his  striking  personality, 
his  genial  disposition,  his  ready  wit  and  vigorous  manner  of  expression. 
Tall  and  well  formed,  he  was  a  man  who  would  attract  attention  in  any 
assemblage.  Courteous  and  cordial,  yet  frank  and  open  in  all  his  deal- 
ings. In  politics  he  was  a  Democrat,  and  he  didn't  care  who  knew  it.  He 
always  stood  up  for  his  party,  and  at  times  when  such  action  was  not 
only  a  subject  of  dispute  with  his  neighbors,  but  even  of  danger  to  his 
personal  safety  or  business  prosperity.  He  never  winced  in  his  honesty 
of  opinion  on  all  political  issues.  He  was  elected  a  term  in  the  Legisla- 
ture, where  he  made  a  valued  member  of  the  house.  In  his  profession  he 
was  eminently  successful,  ranking  along  with  the  best  surgeons  of  his 
day  in  Bloomington  or  elsewhere. 

(36) 


594  History  of  McLean  County 

Under  President  Grover  Cleveland,  Dr.  Hill  was  appointed  as  U.  S. 
consul  at  Port  Sarnia,  Canada,  but  he  held  the  office  only  a  few  months 
owing  to  ill  health.  In  1902,  Dr.  Hill  retired,  and  lived  quietly  from  that 
time  to  the  year  of  his  death. 


John  S.  Ball,  one  of  the  dependable  and  loyal  firemen  and  engineers 
connected  with  the  Chicago  &  Alton  Railroad,  was  born  in  Mason  County, 
W.  Va.,  Feb.  25,  1889,  and  is  the  son  of  Andrew  and  Martha  (Scarbearry) 
Ball. 

Andrew  Ball,  a  native  of  Virginia,  came  to  Bloomington  in  1900. 
Previous  to  that  time  he  had  followed  farming  and  stock  raising  in  Vir- 
ginia. He  and  his  wife  now  live  retired  at  906  West  Mulberry  Street. 
They  are  the  parents  of  eight  children,  as  follows :  Thomas,  lives  in  Bloom- 
ington; James,  deceased;  John,  the  subject  of  this  sketch;  Mary;  Chris- 
tina, married  L.  Prahm,  lives  in  Bloomington ;  Eva,  married  Harry  Prahm, 
lives  in  Bloomington;  Lewis,  also  a  resident  of  Bloomington;  and  Anna 
May,  at  home  with  her  parents. 

John  S.  Ball  attended  the  public  schools  and  began  life  as  a  painter 
and  decorator.  In  1908  he  entered  the  employ  of  the  Chicago  &  Alton 
Railroad  in  Bloomington,  as  a  fireman,  and  was  made  engineer  in  1916. 
Mr.  Ball  is  now  firing  one  of  the  fast  mail  trains  out  of  Bloomington. 
Before  he  became  interested  in  railroading,  Mr.  Ball  was  with  the  101 
Ranch  at  Miller,  Okla.,  and  later  joined  Hagenback  Circus  for  two  seasons 
as  a  rough  rider. 

On  Sept.  15,  1910,  Mr.  Ball  was  married  to  Miss  George  May  Clark, 
a  native  of  Benton  City,  Mo.,  born  Jan.  1,  1891.  She  died  Feb.  6,  1919, 
leaving  one  child,  John  Edgar,  who  was  born  Feb.  23,  1916.  On  June  10, 
1920,  Mr.  Ball  was  married  to  Mrs.  Sophia  (Pochalski)  Stine,  a  native  of 
Berlin,  Germany,  born  July  18,  1891,  and  the  daughter  of  August  and 
Bertha  (Heckert)  Pochalski,  natives  of  Germany.  The  Pochalski  family 
came  to  the  United  States  in  1909  and  settled  at  Minear,  111.  Mr.  Pochalski 
lives  at  518  East  Locust  Street,  Bloomington.  His  wife  died  June  8,  1919. 
There  were  12  children  in  the  Pochalski  family,  as  follows:  Johanna, 
deceased ;  William,  lives  in  Bloomington ;  Louise,  mention  of  whom  is 
made  below;  Mrs.  Ball,  by  a  former  marriage  to  Joseph  Stine,  Mrs.  Ball 
has  one  daughter  Louise ;  Carl,  lives  in  Bloomington ;  August,  also  a  resi- 
dent of  Bloomington;  Victoria,  married  Frank  Snyder,  lives  at  Detroit, 


History  of  McLean  County  595 

Mich. ;  Rudie,  Frank,  Freddie,  all  deceased ;  Herman,  lives  in  Bloomington ; 
and  Egan,  also  lives  in  Bloomington. 

Louise  Pochalski  did  Red  Cross  work  in  Germany  during  the  World 
war  and  was  severely  wounded  by  shrapnel.  She  was  later  married  to 
Paul  Wendt,  and  they  live  in  Berlin,  Germany,  where  he  owns  and  operates 
a  piano  factory.  He  also  served  with  the  German  army  during  the  war 
and  received  many  decorations  for  his  bravery. 

Mr.  Ball  is  a  Republican,  a  member  of  the  Baptist  Church,  and  belongs 
to  the  Masonic  Lodge.  He  is  an  excellent  citizen  and  a  trustworthy  man 
in  his  work.  Mr.  Ball  was  firing  on  train  No.  12  and  was  in  a  serious 
wreck  at  Joliet,  111.,  in  1917,  when  his  engineer,  Charles  Conklin,  was 
killed.  Mr.  Ball  was  severely  scalded  and  burned  and  was  not  able  to 
return  to  work  for  about  a  year. 


W.  Keogh,  a  substantial  citizen  of  Bloomington,  was  born  in  Ireland, 
Jan.  12,  1865,  and  is  a  son  of  Thomas  and  Mary  (O'Neill)  Keogh. 

Thomas  Keogh  brought  his  family  to  the  United  States  from  Ireland 
during  the  Civil  war,  locating  in  Bloomington  where  he  entered  the  em- 
ploy of  the  Chicago  &  Alton  Railroad.  Later  he  removed  to  Omaha,  Neb., 
where  he  died  in  1908.  His  wife  died  in  1893.  They  were  the  parents  of 
seven  children,  as  follows:  John,  deceased,  was  a  prominent  paving  con- 
tractor of  Bloomington ;  Daniel,  lives  in  Minnesota ;  J.  B.,  lives  in  Omaha, 
Neb.;  Thomas  F.,  mention  of  whom  is  made  below;  Timothy,  deceased; 
Johanna,  married  J.  Ryan,  lives  in  Wyoming,  and  W.,  the  subject  of  this 
sketch.  Thomas  F.  Keogh,  who  now  lives  retired  in  Florida,  served  as 
chief  of  police  of  Bloomington  under  Mayor  John  Trotter's  administra- 
tion, and  was  a  prominent  citizen  of  Bloomington  for  many  years. 

W.  Keogh  spent  the  early  part  of  his  life  in  Colorado  and  started 
railroading  in  1884.  After  firing  for  three  years  on  the  Missouri  Pacific 
Railroad  at  Omaha,  Neb.,  he  entered  the  employ  of  the  Chicago  &  Alton 
Railroad,  at  Bloomington,  111.,  as  a  brakeman.  Mr.  Keogh  has  been  a 
conductor  on  this  road  since  1909. 

On  June  30,  1892,  Mr.  Keogh  was  married  to  Miss  Anna  Harrigan, 
who  was  born  in  Jacksonville,  111.,  Dec.  9,  1860,  the  daughter  of  John  and 
Nora  (Riley)  Harrigan,  natives  of  Ireland  and  early  settlers  of  Illinois. 
They  were  the  parents  of  the  following  children :  Minnie,  deceased ;  Statia, 


596  History  of  McLean  County 

the  widow  of  John  Butler,  lives  at  Jacksonville,  111. ;  Mrs.  Keogh ;  James, 
Cornelius  and  Nancy,  who  live  at  Jacksonville,  111. ;  and  Edward,  deceased. 
Mr.  Harrigan  died  in  1874  and  his  wife  died  in  1912.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Keogh 
have  two  children:  Neil,  born  June  30,  1893,  lives  at  Detroit,  Mich.,  and 
is  a  veteran  of  the  World  war;  and  Nora,  born  Dec.  20,  1895,  now  teaching 
school  at  Decatur,  111. 

Mr.  Keogh  and  his  family  are  members  of  the  Catholic  Church  and 
are  well  and  favorably  known  in  Bloomington. 


Noah  W.  Cline,  a  progressive  and  enterprising  citizen  of  Normal,  and 
well  known  conductor  on  the  Chicago  &  Alton  Railroad,  is  a  native  of 
Illinois.  He  was  born  in  Menard  County,  111.,  March  29,  1876,  and  is  the 
son  of  Asa  and  Malissa  (McClelland)  Cline. 

Noah  W.  Cline  received  his  education  in  the  public  schools  of  Harper 
County,  Kans.,  and  Menard  County,  111.  He  has  been  in  the  employ  of 
the  Chicago  &  Alton  Railroad  since  1900  and  was  promoted  to  conductor 
in  1905.    The  Cline  residence  is  located  at  211  North  Street,  Normal. 

Mr.  Cline  was  married  on  Nov.  20,  1901,  to  Miss  Lina  E.  Glasscock,  a 
native  of  Menard  County,  111.  To  this  union  two  children  have  been  born, 
Fern  G.  and  A.  D.  Cline. 

Mr.  Cline  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  Lodge,  the  Consistory  and 
Shrine,  and  belongs  to  the  Order  of  Railway  Conductors. 


William  R.  Miller,  a  progressive  and  enterprising  citizen  of  Bloom- 
ington, in  the  employ  of  the  Chicago  &  Alton  Railroad  as  conductor,  was 
born  in  that  city,  April  28,  1885.  He  is  the  son  of  Lewis  H.  and  Sarah  J. 
(Ewing)  Miller. 

Lewis  H.  Miller  and  his  wife  were  natives  of  Pennsylvania  and  came 
to  Bloomington  in  1865,  where  Mr.  Miller  was  employed  by  the  Chicago  & 
Alton  Railroad  as  fireman.  He  was  killed  by  a  'train  on  Sept.  28,  1906, 
and  his  wife  died  Jan.  11,  1914.  They  were  the  parents  of  the  following 
children:  Lewis  H.,  deceased;  Charles  E.,  lives  at  Kankakee,  111.;  Burt, 
lives  at  Kankakee,  111. ;  May,  deceased ;  Lulu,  lives  in  Indiana ;  and  William 
R.,  the  subject  of  this  sketch.    Mr.  Miller  became  master  mechanic  of  the 


History  of  McLean  County  597 

Chicago  &  Alton  Railroad  and  was  later  promoted  to  general  superin- 
tendent. 

William  R.  Miller  received  his  education  in  the  public  schools  of  Kan- 
kakee, 111.,  and  started  life  as  a  telegraph  operator  on  the  Chicago  & 
Alton  Railroad  in  1900.  In  1910  he  was  promoted  to  conductor,  in  which 
capacity  he  is  now  serving. 

On  March  5,  1906,  Mr.  Miller  was  married  to  Miss  Pansy  Lillian 
Gorbet,  a  native  of  Cornell,  111.,  and  the  daughter  of  Walter  and  Sarah 
(Plymer)  Gorbet.  Mr.  Gorbet  now  lives  retired.  His  wife  died  Nov.  20, 
1913.  They  had  five  children,  as  follows:  George,  lives  at  Streator,  111.; 
Cora,  married  Peter  Fertai,  lives  at  Streator,  111.;  Mrs.  Miller;  Samuel  E., 
lives  at  Pontiac,  111. ;  and  Mamie,  married  Dalton  McKinney,  lives  at  Pon- 
tiac,  111.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Miller  have  three  children:  Lewis  H.,  born  May  14, 
1907;  Marion  Louise,  born  May  8,  1909;  and  Madeline  May,  born  Feb.  9, 
1911. 

Mr.  Miller  is  a  Republican  and  a  member  of  the  Masonic  lodge,  Con- 
sistory and  Shrine  of  Springfield,  111.  He  has  been  president  of  the  Local 
Trainmen's  Lodge  for  four  years. 


M.  F.  Ramage,  a  well  known  engineer  on  the  Chicago  &  Alton  Rail- 
road, living  in  Bloomington,  is  a  native  of  Illinois.  He  was  born  at  Peoria, 
June  24,  1868,  and  is  a  son  of  David  and  Margaret  (Ferrie)  Ramage. 

David  Ramage  was  born  in  Scotland  and  came  to  the  United  States 
when  he  was  a  young  man,  locating  at  Peoria,  111.  In  1873  he  removed  to 
Bloomington  where  he  was  employed  by  the  Chicago  &  Alton  Railroad 
as  a  carpenter.  He  died  in  1897  and  his  wife,  who  is  now  84  years  of 
age,  lives  with  her  son,  M.  F.  Ramage.  There  were  ten  children  in  the 
Ramage  family:  Anna,  died  in  infancy;  James,  lives  in  Bloomington; 
Margaret,  died  in  infancy ;  Elizabeth,  married  W.  P.  Rhea,  lives  at  Bloom- 
ington; M.  F.,  the  subject  of  this  sketch;  John,  died  in  infancy;  Thomas, 
lives  in  Bloomington ;  Williams,  who  was  killed  in  a  wreck  at  Manchester, 
111.,  while  in  the  employ  of  the  Chicago  &  Alton  Railroad  as  fireman; 
David,  lives  at  Waterloo,  la. ;  and  Robert,  a  mechanical  engineer  lives  at 
Milwaukee,  Wis. 

M.  F.  Ramage  attended  the  public  schools  of  Bloomington  and  in  1890 
entered  the  employ  of  the  Chicago  &  Alton  Railroad  as  fireman,  and  seven 


598  History  of  McLean  County 

years  later  was  promoted  to  engineer.  Mr.  Ramage  has  served  in  this 
capacity  continuously  since  that  time,  and  is  one  of  the  competent  and 
trustworthy  men  in  the  service. 

On  Nov.  27,  1889,  Mr.  Ramage  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Allie 
Pierson,  who  was  born  at  Rising  Sun,  Ind.,  Feb.  5,  1869,  the  daughter  of 
John  and  Anna  (Lancaster)  Pierson,  natives  of  Kentucky  and  early  set- 
tlers of  Indiana.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Pierson,  deceased,  were  the  parents  of 
the  following  children :  Emma,  married  S.  W.  Loustetter,  lives  in  Chicago ; 
Richard,  lives  in  Illinois;  William,  lives  in  Chicago;  Elizabeth,  deceased; 
and  Mrs.  Ramage.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ramage  three  children  have  been 
born:  Bessie,  married  Herman  Kenaga,  lives  in  Chicago;  Harry,  who 
served  throughout  the  World  war  in  the  navy,  and  now  lives  in  Chicago; 
and  Edward,  a  machinist  with  the  Chicago  &  Alton  Railroad,  lives  in 
Bloomington.  There  are  three  grandchildren :  Robert  and  Mary  Catherine 
Kenaga,  and  Dorothy  Alice  Ramage. 

Mr.  Ramage  is  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  and  belongs 
to  the  Masonic  lodge  and  the  Knights  of  Pythias. 


J.  E.  Abbott  is  a  substantial  citizen  of  Bloomington  and  a  well  known 
conductor  on  the  Chicago  &  Alton  Railroad.  He  was  born  in  Kentucky, 
Dec.  26,  1879,  and  is  the  son  of  John  and  Lucy  (Martin)  Abbott. 

John  Abbott  was  a  native  of  Kentucky,  as  also  was  his  wife.  They 
lived  on  a  farm  in  Pulaski  County,  Ky.,  for  many  years,  and  were  suc- 
cessful farmers.  Mr.  Abbott  died  in  1923  and  his  wife  died  the  year 
previous.  He  was  a  Republican  and  a  life  long  member  of  the  Baptist 
Church.  There  were  nine  children  in  the  Abbott  family,  as  follows:  Har- 
rison, deceased;  Rev.  George,  a  Baptist  minister,  lives  in  Kentucky;  Cal- 
vin, lives  in  Kentucky ;  Marion,  lives  at  Normal,  111. ;  William  and  Benja- 
min, live  in  Kentucky ;  Jane,  married  G.  S.  Denny,  lives  in  Kentucky ;  Lena, 
married  P.  L.  Barlow,  lives  in  Kentucky;  and  J.  E.,  the  subject  of  this 
sketch. 

J.  E.  Abbott  attended  the  district  schools  of  Kentucky  and  came  to 
McLean  County  in  1899.  The  following  year  he  went  to  Dewitt  County. 
In  1907  Mr.  Abbott  came  to  Bloomington,  where  he  entered  the  employ 
of  the  Chicago  &  Alton  Railroad  as  brakeman.  The  following  year  he  was 
promoted  to  conductor,  in  which  capacity  he  is  now  serving. 


History  of  McLean  County  599 

In  September,  1900,  Mr.  Abbott  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Mattie  Babcock,  a  native  of  Kentucky,  and  the  daughter  of  A.  W.  and 
Mary  (Collier)  Babcock,  the  former  a  native  of  Canada  and  the  latter  of 
Kentucky.  Mr.  Babcock  came  to  the  United  States  at  the  outbreak  of  the 
Civil  war  and  enlisted  at  Detroit,  Mich.,  in  Colonel  Smith's  regiment,  and 
was  in  service  two  years  and  in  a  number  of  important  battles.  After 
the  close  of  the  war  Mr.  Babcock  settled  in  Kentucky,  where  he  married 
and  engaged  in  general  farming.  He  died  in  1920  and  his  wife  died  in 
1898.  They  were  the  parents  of  four  children:  Reta,  married  A.  R.  Carney, 
lives  in  Kentucky;  Josephine,  married  J.  M.  Meece,  lives  in  Kentucky; 
Anna,  married  V.  L.  Meece,  also  a  resident  of  Kentucky ;  and  Mrs.  Abbott. 
To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Abbott  two  children  have  been  born:  Beatrice,  married 
H.  K.  Livingston,  an  employee  of  the  Chicago  &  Alton  Railroad,  lives  in 
Bloomington;  and  Blanche,  a  graduate  of  the  Bloomington  High  School, 
resides  at  home. 

Mr.  Abbott  belongs  to  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  the 
Modern  Woodmen  of  America,  and  the  Order  of  Railway  Conductors — 
and  has  been  an  official  in  that  order  ever  since  he  has  been  a  member 
and  is  now  Assistant  Chief  Conductor. 


Arthur  Cunliffe,  a  well  known  locomotive  engineer  with  the  Chicago 
&  Alton  Railroad,  was  born  in  LaSalle  County,  111.,  Feb.  25,  1878.  He  is 
a  son  of  Henry  and  Benetta  (Welshanse)  Cunliffe. 

Henry  Cunliffe  was  born  in  LaSalle  County,  111.,  and  later  brought  his 
family  to  Livingston  County.  He  followed  farming  for  many  years  and 
died  Oct.  30,  1917.  His  wife,  a  native  of  Harrisburg,  Pa.,  lives  with  her 
children.  They  were  the  parents  of  four  children :  Nettie,  married  Frank 
Stearns,  lives  at  Joliet,  111. ;  Nellie,  twin  sister  of  Nettie,  deceased ;  Ar- 
thur, the  subject  of  this  sketch;  and  Jessie,  married  Francis  Kennedy, 
lives  at  Pontiac,  111. 

Arthur  Cunliffe  attended  the  district  schools  and  followed  farming 
for  eight  years.  In  1913  he  entered  the  employ  of  the  Chicago  &  Alton 
Railroad  as  fireman  and  five  years  later  was  promoted  to  engineer. 

On  June  25,  1902,  Mr.  Cunliffe  was  married  to  Miss  Beulah  Wells,  a 
native  of  LeRoy,  111.,  and  the  daughter  of  Andy  and  Mary  (Garry) 
Wells,   the  former  a   native   of   Scotland   and   the   latter   of   Ohio.     Mr. 


600  History  of  McLean  County 

Wells  lived  retired  at  LeRoy,  where  he  was  engaged  in  business  for 
many  years.  His  wife  died  Aug.  5,  1897.  They  were  the  parents  of 
nine  children,  as  follows:  Edward,  died  in  infancy;  Imo,  married 
Edward  Razor,  lives  at  Peoria,  111. ;  Cecile,  married  William  Wright,  lives 
at  Urbana,  111.;  Clay,  deceased;  Mrs.  Cunliffe;  Minor,  lives  at  LeRoy; 
Audrey,  deceased ;  Alvoga,  married  John  Bowen,  lives  at  Odell,  111. ;  Hazel, 
lives  with  her  father.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cunliffe  five  children  have  been 
born,  as  follows:  Henrietta,  born  May  27,  1903,  was  graduated  from 
high  school  in  1921 ;  Pauline  Dorothy,  born  Nov.  4,  1905,  was  graduated 
from  high  school  in  1922;  Bernice  Estella,  born  Aug.  31,  1907;  one  child 
died  in  infancy;  and  Arthur,  Jr.,  born  April  6,  1911. 

Mr.  Cunliffe  is  a  Democrat  and  a  member  of  the  Masonic  Lodge.  He 
and  his  family  are  members  of  the  Methodist  Church  and  are  highly  re- 
spected citizens  of  Bloomington. 


Willis  S.  Harwood,  president  of  the  W.  S.  Harwood  Lumber  &  Coal 
Company,  is  an  enterprising  and  successful  business  man  of  Bloomington. 
He  was  born  in  Bloomington,  Nov.  3,  1862,  the  son  of  Thomas  Fitch  and 
Marietta  (Keys)  Harwood. 

Thomas  F.  Harwood,  deceased,  was  one  of  the  honored  and  highly 
respected  pioneer  citizens  of  Bloomington.  He  was  born  at  Holley,  N. 
Y.,  in  1838,  the  son  of  Chauncey  and  Louisa  (Bogue)  Harwood.  Chaun- 
cey  Harwood  was  a  native  of  Vermont  and  in  early  manhood  went  to  New 
York  and  located  on  the  present  site  of  Rochester,  traveling  the  entire 
distance  on  foot  from  Chittenden,  Vt.,  through  dense  forests.  He  bought 
a  tract  of  100  acres  of  land  on  which  he  built  a  woolen  mill,  just  below 
the  fall  of  the  Genessee  River.  While  operating  that  will  his  health  failed 
and  he  removed  to  Orleans  County,  N.  Y.,  where  he  purchased  property  and 
erected  another  woolen  mill,  which  was  liberally  patronized  by  the  early 
settlers.  He  was  a  staunch  supporter  of  the  Whig  party  and  a  deacon  in 
the  Presbyterian  Church. 

Thomas  F.  Harwood  left  home  at  the  age  of  20  years  and  came  to 
Bloomington,  where  he  established  himself  in  the  hardware  business  on 
Center  Stret.  In  1870  he  sold  out  this  business  to  his  brothers  and  em- 
barked in  the  lumber  trade  under  the  firm  name  of  T.  F.  Harwood  &  Co. 
This  was  afterwards  changed  to  T.  F.  Harwood  &  Sons.    Mr.  Harwood  was 


LIB  ' 
OF 


History  of  McLean  County  601 

connected  with  this  business  until  his  death,  which  occurred  in  December, 
1891.  In  1862  Mr.  Harwood  was  married  to  Miss  Marietta  Keys,  a  native 
of  Holley,  N.  Y.,  and  a  daughter  of  H.  N.  Keys.  Four  children  were  born 
to  this  union,  one  of  whom  is  living,  Willis  S.,  the  subject  of  this  sketch. 

Willis  S.  Harwood  was  reared  and  educated  in  Bloomington.  He  be- 
gan his  business  career  as  bookkeeper  for  his  father  in  1882,  when  he  was 
20  years  of  age,  and  he  has  been  constantly  engaged  in  the  lumber  busi- 
ness to  the  present  time. 

On  Nov.  3,  1887,  Mr.  Harwood  was  married  to  Charlotte  Burr,  a  na- 
tive of  Bloomington,  and  the  daughter  of  Alonzo  and  Mary  (Foote)  Burr, 
the  former  a  native  of  Connecticut,  the  latter  of  New  York.  Mr.  Burr  died 
in  May,  1900,  and  his  wife  died  in  November,  1919.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Har- 
wood have  two  children:  Thomas  F.,  engaged  in  business  with  his  father; 
and  Alonzo  Burr,  a  student. 

In  politics  Mr.  Harwood  is  identified  with  the  Republican  party  and 
he  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Christian  Scientist  Church.  He  is 
highly  esteemed  as  an  alert  business  man  and  an  enterprising  citizen. 


Thomas  F.  Harwood,  deceased,  was  one  of  the  honored  and  highly  re- 
spected pioneer  citizens  of  Bloomington.  He  was  born  in  Orleans  County, 
N.  Y.,  in  1838,  the  son  of  Chauncey  and  Louisa  (Bogue)  Harwood. 

Chauncey  Harwood  was  a  native  of  Vermont  and  in  early  manhood 
went  to  New  York  and  located  on  the  present  site  of  the  city  of  Roches- 
ter, traveling  the  entire  distance  on  foot  from  Chittenden,  Vt.,  through 
dense  forests.  He  bought  a  tract  of  100  acres  of  land,  on  which  he  built 
a  woolen  mill  just  below  the  fall  of  the  Genessee  River.  While  operating 
that  mill  his  health  failed  and  he  removed  to  Orleans  County,  N.  Y.,  where 
he  purchased  property  and  erected  another  woolen  mill,  which  was  liber- 
ally patronized  by  the  early  settlers.  Mr.  Harwood  was  a  stauch  supporter 
of  the  Whig  party  and  a  deacon  in  the  Presbyterian  Church. 

Thomas  F.  Harwood  left  home  at  the  age  of  20  years  and  came  to 
Bloomington  and  established  himself  in  the  hardware  business  on  Center 
Street.  In  1870  he  sold  out  this  business  to  his  brothers  and  embarked 
in  the  lumber  trade,  under  the  firm  name  of  T.  F.  Harwood  &  Co.  This 
was  afterwards  changed  to  T.  F.  Harwood  &  Sons.    Mr.  Harwood  was  con- 


602  History  of  McLean  County 

nected  with  this  business  until  his  death,  which  occurred  in  December, 
1891. 

In  1862  Mr.  Harwood  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Marietta 
Keys,  a  native  of  Orleans  County,  N.  Y.,  and  a  daughter  of  H.  N.  Keys, 
a  native  of  Connecticut.  Three  children  were  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Har- 
wood, as  follows :    Willis  S. ;  Clara ;  and  Harry  B. 

Mr.  Harwood  was  a  Republican  and  served  for  one  term  as  alderman 
of  the  First  Ward.  He  was  a  stockholder  and  vice-president  of  the  Citi- 
zens Gas  Light  Company  of  Bloomington  for  many  years,  and  was  inter- 
ested in  the  Third  National  Bank.  Mr.  Harwood  was  an  energetic  citizen 
who  stood  well  in  the  esteem  of  his  neighbors  and  fellow  citizens. 


Thomas  Fitch  Harwood,  who  is  successfully  engaged  in  the  lumber 
and  coal  business  with  his  father,  is  among  the  enterprising  business  men 
of  Bloomington.  He  was  born  there,  July  21,  1888,  and  is  the  son  of  Wil- 
lis S.  and  Charlotte  (Burr)  Harwood,  a  sketch  of  whom  appears  else- 
where in  this  volume. 

Thomas  Fitch  Harwood  received  his  preliminary  education  in  the 
public  schools  of  Bloomington,  after  which  he  was  graduated  from  Den- 
ver High  School  and  the  Colorado  School  of  Mines  at  Golden,  Colo.  He 
spent  three  years  in  the  mines  of  Colorado  and  Arizona  as  mining  en- 
gineer and  returned  to  Bloomington  in  1910,  where  he  has  since  been 
associated  with  his  father  in  the  lumber  and  coal  business.  The  firm  is 
known  as  the  W.  S.  Harwood  Lumber  &  Coal  Company  and  is  among  the 
leading  business  enterprises  of  Bloomington. 

On  Oct.  10,  1911,  Mr.  Harwood  was  married  to  Miss  Helen  Capen,  a 
native  of  Bloomington,  and  the  daughter  of  Frank  C.  and  May  (Johnson) 
Capen,  natives  of  Bloomington.  Mr.  Capen  is  deceased.  His  widow  lives 
at  504  E.  Front  Street,  Bloomington.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Harwood  one 
daughter  has  been  born,  Jane,  who  is  10  years  of  age.  She  is  the  fifth 
generation  of  three  of  Bloomington's  prominent  pioneer  families:  the 
Burrs,  Capens  and  Foots ;  and  the  fourth  generation  of  two  other  promi- 
nent families,  the  Harwoods  and  the  Johnsons. 

In  politics,  Mr.  Harwood  is  identified  with  the  Republican  party  and 
he  belongs  to  the  Masonic  lodge,  the  Elks  and  the  American  Legion.  He 
and  his  family  are  members  of  the  Presbyterian  Church.  Mr.  Harwood 
is  a  representative  citizen  of  McLean  County  and  is  highly  esteemed. 


History  of  McLean  County  603 

Carl  E.  Whitehouse,  who  has  been  connected  with  the  Chicago  & 
Alton  Railroad  at  Bloomington  since  1903,  is  a  native  of  Morgan  County, 
Ohio.  He  was  born  in  Morgan  County,  near  McConnellsville,  Feb.  2,  1879, 
and  is  a  son  of  Israel  and  Catherine  (Hastings)  Whitehouse. 

Israel  Whitehouse  and  his  wife  were  born  in  Morgan  County,  Ohio, 
and  were  engaged  in  farming  there.  Mr.  Whitehouse  died  in  November, 
1903,  and  his  wife  lives  on  the  old  homestead.  They  were  the  parents  of 
four  children:  Carl  E.,  the  subject  of  this  sketch;  Vernon,  lives  in  Morgan 
County,  Ohio;  Ella,  married  John  Broedell,  lives  in  Morgan  County,  Ohio; 
and  Harry,  who  also  lives  in  Ohio. 

Carl  E.  Whitehouse  was  educated  in  the  public  and  high  schools  of 
McConnellsville,  after  which  he  taught  school  in  Morgan  County,  Ohio, 
for  four  years.  He  afterward  was  engaged  in  selling  text  books  for  one 
year,  and  in  1903,  entered  the  employ  of  the  Chicago  &  Alton  as  fireman. 
Three  years  later  he  was  promoted  to  engineer  with  a  regular  run  from 
Peoria  to  Chicago.  At  present  Mr.  Whitehouse  is  in  the  pool  block 
service. 

On  Oct.  18,  1905,  Mr.  Whitehouse  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Mildred  Hammond,  a  native  of  LeRoy,  111.,  born  in  1881,  and  a  daughter 
of  William  and  Catherine  (Bishop)  Hammond,  the  former  a  native  of  New 
Jersey  and  the  latter  of  McLean  County.  Mr.  Hammond  died  in  1903  and 
his  wife  died  in  1912.  They  were  the  parents  of  four  children:  Ida,  died 
in  1922,  was  the  wife  of  Thomas  Rutledge;  James  Walter,  lives  in  Normal; 
Charles,  lives  in  North  Dakota;  Elizabeth,  married  William  Dewitt,  lives 
at  Moline,  111. ;  and  Mrs.  Whitehouse.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Whitehouse  have  four 
children:  Doris,  C.  E.,  Jr.,  Eleanor,  and  William. 

Mr.  Whitehouse  is  a  member  of  the  Brotherhood  of  Locomotive  En- 
gineers and  he  and  his  family  are  members  of  the  Methodist  Church. 


Alonzo  Sargent,  deceased,  was  a  well  known  citizen  of  Bloomington. 
He  was  born  at  Marietta,  Ohio,  and  was  a  son  of  Samuel  Sargent. 

Alonzo  Sargent  was  among  the  early  settlers  of  Bloomington.  He 
followed  farming  and  stock  raising  in  Bloomington  Township  for  many 
years  and  then  engaged  in  the  bakery  business  in  Bloomington,  and  later 
in  the  livery  and  feed  business.  He  also  was  a  breeder  of  draft  horses. 
Mr.  Sargent  died  in  August,  1898,  at  the  age  of  55  years. 


604  History  of  McLean  County 

Mr.  Sargent  was  married  to  Miss  Betty  Baker,  who  was  born  in 
Bloomington,  Feb.  22,  1836,  the  daughter  of  Seth  and  Mary  (Gates) 
Baker,  natives  of  Ohio,  and  pioneers  of  Bloomington.  Mrs.  Sargent's 
grandfather,  Isaac  Baker,  was  the  first  postmaster  of  Bloomington.  Mrs. 
Sargent  has  one  sister  living:  Margaret,  the  widow  of  Frank  Packard, 
lives  in  Bloomington.  To  Alonzo  and  Betty  (Baker)  Sargent  five  chil- 
dren were  born  as  follows:  Frank,  deceased;  Mary;  Clara,  the  widow  of 
Ambrose  Kirkpatrick,  lives  at  1202  East  Washington  Street;  Frankie,  died 
in  infancy ;  and  A.  J.,  lives  in  Bloomington.  There  are  two  grandchildren, 
Alonzo  and  Esther  Sargent.  Mrs.  Sargent  lives  at  1202  East  Washington 
Street,  with  her  daughter,  Mrs.  Kirkpatrick,  and  is  highly  respected  and 
esteemed  in  her  community. 


William  O.  Strimple,  deceased,  was  a  substantial  citizen  of  Blooming- 
ton and  a  veteran  of  the  Civil  War.  He  was  born  at  Salem,  Ohio,  Feb.  3, 
1844,  the  son  of  Robert  and  Ann  (McCune)  Strimple. 

Robert  Strimple  and  his  wife  were  born  in  Ohio  and  were  early  set- 
tlers of  McLean  County,  where  they  followed  farming.  Mr.  Strimple 
owned  300  acres  of  'land  and  was  a  successful  stockman.  He  was  a  Re- 
publican and  served  as  justice  of  the  peace  for  a  number  of  years.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Strimple,  now  deceased,  were  the  parents  of  the  following  chil- 
dren: William  O.,  the  subject  of  this  sketch;  Adolphus,  deceased; 
Charles,  a  retired  farmer,  lives  west  of  Bloomington;  Laura,  the  widow 
of  John  Enlow,  lives  near  Bloomington ;  Emma,  the  widow  of  Milan  Mun- 
sell,  lives  near  Bloomington ;  Oren,  lives  retired  in  Bloomington ;  and  Jane, 
deceased. 

William  O.  Strimple  was  educated  in  the  schools  of  Bloomington  and 
spent  his  boyhood  on  his  father's  farm.  He  followed  farming  during  his 
life  and  met  with  success  as  a  stockman.  Mr.  Strimple  owned  60  acres 
of  land.  During  the  Civil  War  he  served  with  Company  B,  68th  Illinois 
Volunteer  Infantry,  and  took  part  in  several  important  battles  and  skir- 
mishes.   Mr.  Strimple  died  Jan.  2,  1921. 

On  Sept.  17,  1867,  Mr.  Strimple  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Sarah  Eubank,  a  native  of  Winchester,  Ky.,  born  April  10,  1846,  and  the 
daughter  of  Achilles  and  Leanner  (Kennedy)  Eubank,  natives  of  Ken- 
tucky and  early  settlers  of  Illinois,  having  come  here  in  1852  on  the  first 


History  of  McLean  County  605 

train  that  ran  into  Bloomington.  Mr.  Eubank  died  in  1895  and  his  wife 
died  in  1901.  They  were  the  parents  of  the  following-  children:  Mrs. 
Strimple;  John,  lives  at  Ellsworth,  111.;  Lucinda,  the  widow  of  George 
Jones,  lives  in  Bloomington ;  Nancy,  the  widow  of  Thomas  Epperson,  lives 
in  Iowa;  Mary,  deceased;  May,  the  widow  of  John  Miller,  lives  at  Ells- 
worth, 111. ;  and  Burt,  died  in  infancy.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Strimple  six 
children  were  born,  as  follows:  Cora,  born  in  1868,  married  J.  C.  Fierce, 
lives  in  Bloomington;  Jennie,  born  in  1870,  died  in  1905,  was  the  wife  of 
George  Gibbler;  Eugene,  born  in  1872,  lives  at  Topeka,  Kan.;  John,  born 
in  1874,  lives  in  Wisconsin;  Oscar,  born  in  1876,  lives  at  Peoria,  111.;  and 
Ella,  born  in  1885,  married  Leon  Swain,  lives  in  Bloomington.  Mrs.  Strim- 
ple has  eight  grandchildren  and  four  great-grandchildren. 

In  politics,  Mr.  Strimple  was  identified  with  the  Republican  party, 
and  he  served  as  justice  of  the  peace  for  six  years  and  as  constable  for 
four  years.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Church  and  was  a  reliable 
citizen  of  his  community.  Mrs.  Strimple  has  lived  in  Bloomington  for 
22  years. 


Louis  Dahm,  deceased,  was  a  well  known  and  highly  respected  citi- 
zen of  Bloomington.  He  was  born  in  New  Orleans,  La.,  Oct.  5,  1848,  the 
son  of  Louis  and  Cecelia  Dahm,  natives  of  France  and  early  settlers  of 
New  Orleans,  La.  There  was  but  one  child  in  the  Dahm  family,  Louis, 
the  subject  of  this  sketch. 

Louis  Dahm  received  his  education  in  the  schools  of  New  Orleans  and 
came  to  Bloomington  when  a  young  man.  He  learned  the  carpenter 
trade,  which  he  followed  his  entire  life.  Mr.  Dahm  took  part  in  the  con- 
struction of  many  of  the  large  business  houses  of  Bloomington  and  owned 
a  considerable  amount  of  property.  He  died  Nov.  9,  1909,  and  is  buried 
in  Bloomington. 

On  Sept.  22,  1875,  Mr.  Dahm  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Ame- 
lia Herder,  a  native  of  Germany,  born  Dec.  12,  1855,  and  the  daughter 
of  Gustave  and  Julia  (Bush)  Herder,  natives  of  Germany  and  who  settled 
in  Bloomington  in  1860,  having  left  Germany  in  1859.  The  ocean  voyage 
required  nine  weeks.  Mr.  Herder  died  in  1870  and  his  wife  died  in  1884. 
They  were  the  parents  of  the  following  children:  Julius,  lives  in  Bloom- 
ington; Mrs.  Dahm;  Clara,  married  John  Lorber,  lives  in  Bloomington; 


606  History  of  McLean  County 

Charles,  deceased;  Louis,  deceased;  and  William,  also  deceased.  To  Louis 
and  Amelia  (Herder)  Dahm  three  children  were  born,  as  follows:  Louis, 
born  in  1876,  died  in  infancy;  Lillian,  born  Nov.  10,  1878,  was  married  on 
June  20,  1897,  to  Robert  Bolles,  and  they  live  in  Chicago;  and  Edward, 
born  July  23,  1880„  lives  in  Bloomington.  There  is  one  grandchild,  Mar- 
lowe, who  was  born  March  9,  1899.  A  great  grandchild,  Bonnie  Lee 
Bolles,  was  born  Aug.  21,  1923,  and  died  in  infancy. 

Mr.  Dahm  was  a  Democrat,  and  belonged  to  the  Knights  of  Pythias 
and  the  Red  Men.  He  was  a  progressive  citizen  and  merited  the  high 
regard  in  which  he  was  held  in  the  community. 


John  Wesley  Beck  with,  deceased,  was  a  prominent  and  highly  re- 
spected citizen  of  Bloomington  for  many  years.  He  was  born  near  Roch- 
ester, N.  Y.,  Dec.  5,  1844,  the  son  of  Nelson  LeRoy  and  Hannah  V.  (Mevis) 
Beckwith. 

Nelson  LeRoy  Beckwith  was  born  near  Rochester,  N.  Y.,  Sept.  21, 
1816,  and  came  to  McLean  County  with  his  family  in  1852.  He  settled  at 
Lexington  but  later  removed  to  Bloomington,  where  he  engaged  in  ship- 
ping stock.  Later,  he  went  to  Chicago,  where  he  lived  for  20  years.  He 
was  a  charter  member  of  the  Masonic  Lodge  and  belonged  to  the  Baptist 
Church.  Mr.  Beckwith  died  Feb.  21,  1887,  and  his  wife  died  Aug.  10,  1899. 
She  was  also  a  native  of  New  York,  born  Feb.  24,  1816.  They  were  the 
parents  of  the  following  children:  Walter  I.,  born  May  26,  1840,  served 
throughout  the  Civil  war  with  the  39th  Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry,  and 
died  Feb.  21,  1905 ;  N.  L.,  born  Oct.  3,  1841,  died  Oct.  31,  1873 ;  Hannah  J. 
born  July  23,  1843,  died  Feb.  10,  1844;  John  Wesley,  the  subject  of  this 
sketch;  and  Lester  S.,  born  Oct.  4,  1846,  died  July  24,  1901. 

John  Wesley  Beckwith  was  among  the  pioneer  railroad  men  of  Illi- 
nois. He  was  reared  and  educated  in  Bloomington  and  his  first  position 
was  with  the  Illinois  Central  Railroad  as  conductor.  He  was  later  trans- 
ferred to  the  Big  Four  Railroad  as  conductor,  and  was  later  appointed 
yard  master.  Mr.  Beckwith  was  killed  while  on  duty,  Nov.  10,  1871,  and 
is  buried  in  Bloomington. 

During  the  Civil  war  Mr.  Beckwith  enlisted  in  Company  E,  11th 
Missouri  Cavalry  and  served  throughout  the  war  as  a  bugler.  He  was 
wounded  during  the  battle  of  Lexington,  Mo.,  when  his  horse  was  shot 
from  under  him.    . 


History  of  McLean  County  607 

On  May  18,  1868,  Mr.  Beckwith  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Leonora  Baird,  a  native  of  Clarksburg,  W.  Va.,  born  March  15,  1848,  and 
the  daughter  of  John  S.  and  Mary  B.  (Hayes)  Baird.  Mr.  Baird  was  born 
in  Virginia  May  30,  1812,  and  came  to  Illinois  in  1854,  locating  in  Bloom- 
ington.  His  wife  was  born  Jan.  4,  1811,  and  was  a  first  cousin  to  Ruther- 
ford B.  Hayes,  at  one  time  president  of  the  United  States.  Mr.  Baird  died 
May  7,  1879,  and  his  wife  died  Jan.  16,  1898.  They  were  the  parents  of 
10  children,  as  follows:  Anna  M.,  the  widow  of  Henry  Jordan,  now  85 
years  of  age,  lives  in  Mansfield,  111.;  Jane  A.,  deceased;  Mary,  deceased; 
William,  died  Oct.  4,  1915;  Esther  L.,  the  widow  of  Charles  Glissman,  lives 
at  Bellflower,  I1L ;  John  M.,  born  April  8,  1846;  died  Feb.  18,  1921;  Mrs. 
Beckwith;  Lewell,  born  May  4,  1849,  died  in  1881;  Rebecca  J.,  born  Feb. 
25,  1851,  married  Joseph  Robinson,  lives  near  Portland,  Ore. ;  and  Didema, 
born  Oct.  22,  1852,  married  Lloyd  Farmer,  and  died  in  1877.  To  John 
Wesley  and  Leonora  (Baird)  Beckwith  two  children  were  born:  Blanche 
B.,  born  Feb.  24,  1869,  died  Oct.  27,  1894;  and  John  W.,  born  Sept.  22, 
1870,  died  Aug.  4,  1888. 

John  Wesley  Beckwith  was  a  Republican  and  a  member  of  the  Bap- 
tist Church.  His  widow  lives  at  611  East  Empire  Street,  Bloomington. 
She  is  a  member  of  the  Grace  Methodist  Church,  having  joined  that 
church  when  she  was  nine  years  old.  Mrs.  Beckwith  has  lived  in  the 
same  residence  for  33  years,  has  been  a  subscriber  of  the  Pantagraph  for 
55  years,  and  a  customer  of  the  McLean  County  Coal  Company  for  55 
years  also.  She  is  widely  known  in  McLean  County  and  is  among  the 
highly  esteemed  women  of  Bloomington,  where  she  has  spent  so  many 
years. 


Shepard  Reynolds,  deceased,  was  a  veteran  of  the  Civil  War  and  a 
highly  esteemed  citizen  of  Bloomington.  He  was  born  in  Tazewell  County, 
III,  April  1,  1845,  the  son  of  Jesse  and  Sarah  (Collins)  Reynolds. 

Jesse  Reynolds  was  a  native  of  Illinois  and  an  early  settler  of  McLean 
County.  There  were  seven  children  in  the  Reynolds  family,  all  of  whom 
are  deceased. 

Shepard  Reynolds  attended  the  district  schools  of  Illinois  and  when  a 
young  man  learned  the  painter's  trade,  which  he  followed  for  many  years 
in  Bloomington.     He  served  throughout  the  Civil  War,  enlisting  at  three 


608  History  of  McLean  County 

different  times.  He  suffered  injuries  to  his  head  and  shoulder  during  the 
war,  which  later  caused  blindness,  and  for  15  years  before  his  death,  Mr. 
Reynolds  was  totally  blind.    He  died  Sept.  3,  1901. 

On  Dec.  31,  1867,  Mr.  Reynolds  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Sarah  E.  Lyons,  a  native  of  Licking  County,  Ohio,  born  July  29,  1845,  and 
the  daughter  of  William  and  Esther  (Goodrich)  Lyons,  the  former  a  na- 
tive of  Pennsylvania  and  the  latter  of  Ohio.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lyons,  deceased, 
were  the  parents  of  the  following  children:  Mary  Ellen,  deceased;  Mrs. 
Reynolds;  Martha  A.,  deceased;  Frank  A.,  deceased;  Salinda,  deceased; 
James  Henry,  soldier,  Iowa;  and  Alice,  married  John  Hughes,  both  de- 
ceased. To  Shepard  and  Sarah  E.  (Lyons)  Reynolds  five  children  were 
born,  as  follows:  Charles  W.,  deceased;  Clarence  H.,  lives  in  Bloomington; 
Nellie  M.,  married  M.  R.  Osman,  lives  in  Bloomington;  Elmer  and  Clyde  S., 
both  living  in  Bloomington.  Mrs.  Reynolds  has  10  grandchildren  and  one 
great-grandchild. 

Mr.  Reynolds  was  a  Republican,  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Church, 
and  belonged  to  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic.  Mrs.  Reynolds  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  United  Brethren  Church  and  is  highly  respected  in  Bloomington. 


James  F.  Riley,  a  well  known  and  highly  respected  citizen  of  Ran- 
dolph Township,  who  is  now  living  retired,  was  born  in  Nicholas  County, 
Ky.,  Nov.  1,  1843,  the  son  of  John  and  Elizabeth  (Johnson)  Riley. 

John  Riley,  a  native  of  Kentucky,  was  kicked  by  a  horse  and  died 
when  he  was  27  years  old.  His  wife  died  in  1861,  at  the  age  of  51  years. 
James  F.,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  their  only  child. 

James  F.  Riley  was  educated  in  the  district  schools  of  Kentucky, 
and  when  he  was  a  young  man  went  to  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  where  he  was 
employed  in  a  wholesale  house  as  a  clerk.  He  came  to  McLean  County 
in  1872  and  engaged  in  general  farming  and  stockraising  in  Randolph 
Township,  where  he  owns  a  well-improved  farm  of  160  acres. 

On  Nov.  8,  1866,  Mr.  Riley  was  married  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Johnson, 
born  in  Nicholas  County,  Ky.,  and  to  this  union  four  children  were  born: 
Etta  H.,  died  at  the  age  of  31  years;  Willie  Ray,  died  in  infancy;  Harry 
M.,  died  at  the  age  of  four  years;  and  Carroll,  born  Feb.  21,  1887.  Mrs. 
Riley  died  April  6,  1919,  age  73  years.  She  was  a  daughter  of  Labon  and 
Eliza  (Victor)  Johnson,  natives  of  Nicholas  County,  Ky.,  where  they  died. 


JAMES    F.    RILEY. 


Of 


History  of  McLean  County  609 

Carroll  Riley  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  and  attended  Brown's 
Business  College  at  Bloomington.  He  is  now  engaged  in  general  farming 
and  stock  raising  on  his  father's  farm.  In  1910  Carroll  Riley  was  married 
to  Miss  Anna  Alexander,  a  daughter  of  P.  D.  Alexander.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Riley  have  four  children,  as  follows:  Dorothy  Laverne,  Fern  E.,  Denny 
H.,  and  Jennie  Lee. 

James  F.  Riley  is  a  Democrat  and  belongs  to  the  Masonic  lodge.  Mr. 
Riley  and  his  wife  were  charter  members  of  the  Christian  church  at 
Normal,  having  organized  the  church  at  Normal  in  1875.  Mr.  Riley  was 
a  first  cousin  of  James  Whitcomb  Riley,  who  was  the  beloved  Hoosier  poet, 
and  who  made  many  visits  to  the  Riley  home  in  Randolph  Township.  Mr. 
Riley  spends  each  winter  at  Tampa,  Florida.  He  is  well  known  in  McLean 
County  and  is  held  in  high  esteem. 


Charles  Herder,  deceased,  was  a  well  known  citizen  of  Bloomington 
for  many  years.  He  was  born  in  Germany,  Dec.  22,  1856,  the  son  of 
Gustave  and  Julia  (Bush)  Herder. 

Gustave  Herder  brought  his  family  to  this  country  from  Germany  in 
1856  and  located  at  Bloomington,  where  he  engaged  in  the  upholstery 
business.  He  and  his  wife,  now  deceased,  were  the  parents  of  the  fol- 
lowing children:  Julius,  lives  in  Bloomington;  Amelia,  the  widow  of 
Louis  Dahm,  lives  in  Bloomington;  Clara,  married  John  Lorber,  lives  in 
Bloomington;  Charles,  the  subject  of  this  sketch;  and  William  and  Lewis, 
deceased. 

Charles  Herder  was  reared  and  educated  in  Bloomington  and  began 
life  railroading  on  the  Chicago  &  Alton  Railroad.  He  became  an  engi- 
neer and  after  a  number  of  years  moved  to  Venice,  111.,  where  he  engaged 
in  the  grocery  business  for  15  years.  Mr.  Herder  died  April  29,  1920,  and 
is  buried  in  Bloomington,  having  returned  here  in  1909. 

On  Nov.  19,  1890,  Mr.  Herder  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Lilly 
Weyh,  a  native  of  Illinois,  and  a  daughter  of  William  and  Mary  A. 
Weyh,  natives  of  Germany  and  Pennsylvania,  respectively.  Mr.  Weyh 
came  to'  this  country  at  the  age  of  14  years  and  settled  in  St.  Louis,  where 
he  engaged  in  the  commission  business.  He  served  throughout  the  Civil 
War  and  was  slightly  wounded.  Mr.  Weyh  served  as  mayor  of  Venice, 
111.,  for  a  period  of  16  years  and  as  justice  of  the  peace  for  a  number  of 

(37) 


610  History  of  McLean  County 

years.  He  was  a  Republican,  a  member  of  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Re- 
public, and  belonged  to  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  the  Red 
Men,  the  Knights  of  Pythias  and  the  Lutheran  Church.  He  died  June  15, 
1905,  and  his  wife  died  Jan.  23,  1915.  They  were  the  parents  of  the  fol- 
lowing children:  Nellie  M.,  deceased;  Mrs.  Herder;  Jessie,  married 
Thomas  McCauley,  lives  in  St.  Louis;  Harry  W.,  lives  in  St.  Louis;  and 
Frederick,  deceased.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Herder  four  children  were  born, 
as  follows:  Ruth  M.,  married  Daniel  Manney,  lives  at  1104  S.  Fell  Ave- 
nue, Normal,  111. ;  Mary  J.,  attending  Brown's  Business  College  in  Bloom- 
ington;  Charles  W.,  attending  high  school;  and  Lilly  J.,  also  a  student. 
Mrs.  Herder  has  one  grandchild,  Charles  Vance  Manney,  who  was  born 
Aug.  16,  1921. 

Charles  Herder  was  a  Republican  and  a  member  of  the  Methodist 
Church.  He  was  esteemed  throughout  the  community  as  a  substantial 
and  reliable  citizen. 


William  A.  Stautz,  deceased,  was  a  well  known  business  man  of 
Bloomington.  He  was  born  in  that  city,  Nov.  24,  1859,  the  son  of  Jacob 
and  Bibiana  (Uhrie)  Stautz. 

Jacob  Stautz  was  a  pioneer  business  man  of  Bloomington.  There  were 
seven  children  in  the  Stautz  family,  as  follows:  William  A.,  the  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch;  Louise,  the  widow  of  George  L.  Porter,  lives  at  Indian- 
apolis, Ind. ;  Rose,  married  George  H.  Miller,  lives  in  Bloomington ;  Emma, 
the  widow  of  Thomas  Darmody,  lives  in  Indianapolis,  Ind. ;  Ottilie,  mar- 
ried Henry  Kadglim,  lives  at  Cedar  Rapids,  Iowa;  Jacob,  deceased;  and 
Romilda,  widow  of  Ernest  Gaffon,  lives  at  Indianapolis,  Ind. 

William  A.  Stautz  received  his  education  in  the  public  schools  of 
Bloomington  and  at  the  age  of  17  years  engaged  in  business  with  his  fa- 
ther, who  owned  and  operated  a  meat  business.  Mr.  Stautz  continued  in 
this  line  of  work  until  the  time  of  his  death,  Dec.  10,  1921.  He  is  buried 
in  Evergreen  Cemetery,  Bloomington. 

On  March  14,  1889,  Mr.  Stautz  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Bertha  Lenze,  a  native  of  Bloomington,  born  Nov.  16,  1867,  and  the  daugh- 
ter of  Emil  and  Bertha  (Schroka)  Lenze,  the  former  a  native  of  Switzer- 
land and  the  latter  of  Prussia.     Mr.  Lenze,  who  died  in  1895,  was  a  Re- 


History  of  McLean  County  611 

publican,  a  member  of  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic,  and  belonged 
to  the  Catholic  Church.  He  served  during  the  Civil  War.  Mrs.  Lenze 
died  in  1917.  They  were  the  parents  of  four  children:  Lydia,  married 
Edward  F.  Meyer,  lives  in  Chicago;  Mrs.  Stautz;  Anna,  lives  with  her 
sister,  Mrs.  Stautz;  and  Emil,  deceased.  To  William  A.  and  Bertha 
(Lenze)  Stautz  three  children  were  born,  as  follows:  William  T.,  en- 
gaged in  the  grain  business  in  Pittsburg,  Pa. ;  George  P.,  engaged  in  the 
grain  business  in  Bloomington;  and  Helen,  born  May  9,  1894,  died  Jan. 
13,  1916. 

George  P.  Stautz  is  a  World  War  veteran,  having  served  with  a  medi- 
cal supply  corps.  There  are  two  grandchildren :  Helen,  daughter  of  William 
T.  Stautz,  who  was  born  Sept.  1,  1915 ;  and  William  L.,  son  of  George  P. 
Stautz,  who  was  born  Sept.  3,  1920. 

William  A.  Stautz  was  a  Republican  and  served  as  county  treasurer 
of  McLean  County  for  one  term  and  as  alderman  for  eight  terms.  He 
was  a  member  of  the  Unitarian  Church  and  belonged  to  the  Masonic 
Lodge,  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  the  Elks  and  the  Modern  Woodmen  of 
America.  Mr.  Stautz  was  highly  respected  and  was  a  substantial  citizen 
of  Bloomington. 


Francis  A.  Packard,  deceased,  was  a  prominent  pioneer  of  McLean 
County.  He  was  born  in  Canada,  Jan.  13,  1833,  the  son  of  Rev.  John  A. 
and  Mariam  (Bullock)  Packard. 

Rev.  John  A.  Packard  was  born  at  Saint  Johnsbury,  Vt.,  the  son  of 
Richard  Packard,  a  soldier  of  the  Revolutionary  War  and  a  direct  de- 
scendant of  John  Alden,  well  known  historical  character.  Reverend  Pack- 
ard was  a  minister  of  the  Methodist  Church  and  was  a  circuit  rider, 
preaching  throughout  the  country.  He  was  an  early  settler  of  Canada  and 
later  lived  in  Illinois.  He  died  in  1862  and  his  wife  died  in  1876.  They 
were  the  parents  of  the  following  children:  Callista,  married  H.  Bryant, 
both  deceased;  Marshie,  married  Christopher  Chatman,  both  deceased; 
Charles,  deceased;  Mary  Frances,  married  Joseph  Monroe,  both  deceased; 
Jesse,  deceased;  John  Alden,  Civil  War  veteran,  deceased;  Matthew  Hale, 
deceased;  Walter  S.,  a  Civil  War  veteran,  deceased;  Emeline,  married 
George  Monroe,  both  deceased;  William  B.,  Civil  War  veteran,  deceased; 
Thadius,  deceased;  and  Francis  A.,  the  subject  of  this  sketch. 


612  History  of  McLean  County 

Francis  A.  Packard  was  reared  and  educated  in  Canada  and  came  to 
the  United  States  in  1855,  locating  in  Bloomington,  where  he  engaged  in 
the  mercantile  business  for  a  number  of  years.  During  the  Civil  War  he 
served  with  Company  I,  94th  Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry.  After  the  close 
of  the  war  he  returned  to  Bloomington  and  engaged  in  the  insurance  and 
real  estate  business.  Mr.  Packard  died  May  22,  1911,  and  is  buried  in 
Evergreen  Cemetery. 

On  Feb.  4,  1857,  Mr.  Packard  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Mar- 
garet S.  Baker,  a  native  of  Bloomington,  born  Aug.  6,  1830,  and  the  daugh- 
ter of  Seth  and  Mary  M.  (Gates)  Baker,  natives  of  Marietta,  Ohio.  Mr. 
Baker  was  born  in  1805  and  his  wife  was  born  the  same  year.  They  came 
to  Illinois  in  1827  and  were  among  the  earliest  settlers  of  Bloomington, 
where  they  built  a  log  cabin  on  the  spot  where  the  post-office  now  stands! 
It  was  the  third  frame  house  to  be  built  in  the  town.  Mr.  Baker  was  a 
well-known  merchant  and  became  prosperous.  He  was  a  charter  member 
of  the  Masonic  Lodge  and  was  identified  with  the  Whig  party  and  later 
became  a  Republican.  He  died  Dec.  5,  1846,  and  his  wife  died  Nov.  19, 
1839.  They  were  the  parents  of  the  following  children:  Mrs.  Packard; 
Mary  M.,  married  Chambers  P.  Ober,  both  deceased;  Bettsy  Dodge,  the 
widow  of  Alonzo  Sargent,  lives  on  East  Washington  Street,  Bloomington; 
and  Izrael  D.,  who  was  drowned  while  in  service  during  the  Civil  War. 
To  Francis  A.  and  Margaret  S.  (Baker)  Packard  two  children  were  born: 
Edith,  born  Nov.  1,  1857,  married  first  to  Edwin  F.  Feidler,  deceased,  and 
later  she  was  married  to  James  B.  Kelley,  and  they  live  at  811  West  Jeffer- 
son Street,  Bloomington;  and  Charles  B.,  born  May  24,  1866,  died  Oct.  7, 
1898.  Mrs.  Packard  has  two  grandchildren:  Eva,  married  John  L.  Mur- 
ray, lives  in  Bloomington ;  and  Edwin  F.,  who  lives  in  Bloomington.  There 
are  four  great-grandchildren :  Loren  P.  Murray,  who  was  killed  by  acci- 
dent in  1921.  He  was  a  World  War  veteran,  154th  Aerial  Squadron;  Mar- 
garet H.  Murray ;  Frances  Murray ;  and  Robert  K.  Murray. 

Mrs.  Francis  A.  Packard  is  among  the  highly  esteemed  women  of 
Bloomington  and  is  an  interesting  pioneer.  She  is  now  94  years  of  age  and 
enjoys  good  health. 

Francis  A.  Packard  was  a  staunch  Republican.  He  held  many  public 
offices  and  was  prominent  in  the  affairs  of  his  city.  He  was  an  active 
church  worker,  being  a  member  of  the  Unitarian  Church.  Mr.  Packard 
belonged  to  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic  and  was  one  of  the  well  known 
and  dependable  citizens  of  this  section  of  Illinois. 


History  of  McLean  County  613 

Harry  E.  Flesher,  postmaster  of  Lexington,  is  a  worthy  descendant  of 
an  old  and  honored  Virginia  family.  He  was  born  on  a  farm  a  short  dis- 
tance west  of  Lexington,  111.,  Feb.  22,  1868,  the  son  of  John  W.  and  Nannie 
(Armstrong)  Flesher. 

Lieut.  John  Flesher,  great-grandfather  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch, 
served  in  the  Fifth  Regiment  of  Virginia  Volunteers  during  the  War  of 
1812  between  the  United  States  and  England.  His  son,  Jesse  Flesher,  was 
born  in  Virginia  and  came  to  Illinois  with  his  father  in  1841.  John  W. 
Flesher,  father  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  also  a  native  of  Vir- 
ginia and  lived  in  Ohio  before  coming  to  Lexington,  111. 

Harry  E.  Flesher  was  educated  in  the  Lexington  public  schools  and 
in  1891  entered  the  employ  of  Mahan  Brothers  Company  as  a  salesman, 
remaining  with  this  firm  for  16  years.  In  1908  he  accepted  a  position  in 
the  hardware  store  of  S.  F.  Strayer,  continuing  in  the  employ  of  this  con- 
cern until  May,  1911,  when  he  bought  the  business  and  has  since  conducted 
it  under  his  own  name. 

The  business  of  H.  E.  Flesher  was  one  of  the  most  extensive  conducted 
in  Lexington.  The  stock  consisted  of  shelf  and  heavy  hardware,  cutlery, 
granite,  tinware,  stoves,  guns,  ammunition  and  everything  carried  by  a 
general  hardware  dealer.  In  connection  Mr.  Flesher  also  conducted  an  ex- 
tensive tin  and  sheet  metal  shop,  manufacturing  tin  roofing,  spouting,  sky- 
lights, cornices,  and  also  construction  work  in  this  line.  The  plumbing 
and  heating  department  was  also  an  important  branch  of  the  business. 
Furnaces,  hot  water  and  steam  heating  plants  were  installed  along  sani- 
tary and  scientific  lines.  Mr.  Flesher  was  the  first  to  introduce  automobile 
delivery  trucks  in  Lexington.  On  March  3,  1923,  he  was  appointed  post- 
master of  Lexington,  which  office  he  has  since  filled  in  a  capable  and  effi- 
cient manner. 

On  Oct.  1,  1891,  Mr.  Flesher  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Minnie 
A.  Yoder,  a  daughter  of  Amos  Yoder,  of  Money  Creek  Township.  Five 
children  have  blessed  this  union,  as  follows:  Russell  R.,  lives  at  Blooming- 
ton;  Kathryn,  married  on  May  18,  1917,  to  William  C.  Lindsay,  Jr.,  man- 
ager of  the  grocery  department  of  the  Lindsay  and  Smith  Company  at 
Lexington,  and  they  have  one  child,  Helen  Annette;  Dorothy  L.,  a  gradu- 
ate of  the  Lexington  High  School  in  1922  and  now  postmistress  with  her 
father;  Edith  M.,  a  junior  in  high  school;  and  Mary  E.,  in  the  sixth  grade 
of  school. 


614  History  of  McLean  County 

The  Flesher  family  affiliates  with  the  Christian  congregation  and  are 
prominent  in  social  circles.  They  reside  in  one  of  the  modern  homes  of  this 
city,  where  they  extend  hospitality  to  a  large  circle  of  friends.  Mr.  Flesher 
is  a  gentlman  of  genial  personality  and  an  excellent  business  man,  and  has 
always  taken  an  active  part  in  the  political  and  public  affairs  of  his  town. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  Republican  County  Central  Committee  for  a  term 
of  10  years.  Fraternally,  he  belongs  to  the  Knights  of  Pythias  and  Inde- 
pendent Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  and  has  held  the  office  of  Keeper  of  Rec- 
ords and  Seal  for  the  past  25  years  and  has  also  been  their  Grand  Repre- 
sentative for  over  20  years. 


J.  W.  Ashabran,  manager  of  the  Lexington  Garage  Company  and 
agent  for  Hupmobile  automobiles,  is  a  native  of  McLean  County  and  a 
prominent  business  man.  He  was  born  in  Lexington  Township,  Aug.  16, 
1873,  and  is  the  son  of  Daniel  and  Lydia  (Downey)  Ashabran. 

Daniel  Ashabran,  a  native  of  Lexington  Township,  McLean  County, 
was  born  April  2,  1840,  the  son  of  John  and  Bettsy  (Haner)  Ashabran, 
natives  of  Pennsylvania  and  pioneer  settlers  of  McLean  County,  where 
they  died.  Daniel,  father  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  their  only 
child.  He  was  a  leading  farmer  of  Lexington  Township  and  served 
throughout  the  Civil  War  with  Company  K,  145th  Illinois  Volunteer  In- 
fantry. Mr.  Ashabran  owned  the  old  homestead  of  200  acres,  which  he 
farmed  until  1898,  when  he  retired  and  moved  to  Lexington,  where  he  died 
in  February,  1916.  Lydia  (Downey)  Ashabran  was  born  in  Ohio  in  1844 
and  died  in  1891.  She  was  the  daughter  of  William  Downey,  a  native  of 
Ohio  and  early  settler  of  Clark  County,  111.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Daniel  Ashabran 
had  five  children,  of  whom  only  one  is  now  living,  J.  W.,  the  subject  of 
this  sketch. 

J.  W.  Ashabran  was  reared  on  his  father's  farm  and  received  his  edu- 
cation in  the  public  schools.  He  remained  on  the  home  place  until  1916, 
when  he  sold  it  and  came  to  Lexington.  Mr.  Ashabran  formed  a  garage 
company  and  became  manager.  He  is  now  secretary  and  treasurer  of  the 
company,  which  is  one  of  the  leading  business  enterprises  of  Lexington. 
They  have  the  agency  for  Hupmobile  automobiles  and  Fisk  tires. 

On  Dec.  18,  1895,  Mr.  Ashabran  was  married  to  Miss  Carrie  Harness, 
a  daughter  of  William  and  Arzelia  (Taylor)  Harness,  residents  of  Lexing- 


History  of  McLean  County  615 

ton.  To  J.  W.  and  Carrie  (Harness)  Ashabran  four  children  have  been 
born,  as  follows:  Voyle,  at  home;  Violet,  married  William  Falkingham, 
lives  at  Lexington,  and  they  have  one  child,  Donald ;  Neva,  married  James 
Reese,  lives  at  Chicago,  and  they  have  one  child,  Rhoa;  and  William,  lives 
at  home. 

Mr.  Ashabran  is  identified  with  the  Republican  party  in  politics  and 
has  served  as  road  commissioner  for  three  years.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Knights  of  Pythias  and  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows.  Mr.  Asha- 
bran is  well  and  favorably  known  in  McLean  County  and  takes  an  active 
interest  in  the  affairs  of  the  community. 


L.  B.  Strayer,  the  well  known  cashier  of  The  Peoples  Bank  of  Lexing- 
ton, is  a  member  of  one  of  McLean  County's  oldest  and  most  prominent 
families.  He  was  born  at  Lexington,  April  8,  1869,  the  son  of  Morinus  and 
Sarah  F.  (Smith)  Strayer. 

Morinus  Strayer  was  a  well  known  attorney  of  McLean  County  for  a 
number  of  years,  having  come  here  from  Bellefontaine,  Ohio,  where  he 
was  born.  His  wife  was  a  native  of  McLean  County,  born  in  1842,  and  she 
now  lives  in  Lexington.  After  the  death  of  her  first  husband,  Mrs.  Strayer 
was  later  married  to  W.  D.  Powley,  deceased.  To  Morinus  and  Sarah  F. 
(Smith)  Strayer  two  children  were  born:  Frank,  lives  in  Detroit,  Mich.; 
and  L.  B.,  the  subject  of  this  sketch. 

L.  B.  Strayer  was  reared  and  educated  at  Lexington  and  entered  the 
banking  business  in  1886.  His  first  position  was  that  of  janitor  in  the 
First  National  Bank  and  he  was  later  made  bookkeeper  and  finally  cashier 
of  the  bank.  In  1898  the  First  National  Bank  of  Lexington  was  consoli- 
dated with  The  Peoples  Bank,  and  at  that  time  Mr.  Strayer  entered  the 
hardware  business,  where  he  remained  until  1911,  when  he  was  again 
made  cashier  of  the  bank,  which  office  he  has  since  filled. 

In  1892  Mr.  Strayer  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Blanche  Clag- 
gett,  a  native  of  Lexington,  and  she  died  in  1896  at  the  age  of  25  years. 
To  this  union  two  children  were  born,  as  follows:  Jane,  married  John 
Gilmore,  lives  at  Lexington;  and  Elaine,  lives  at  Normal,  111.  In  1901  Mr. 
Strayer  was  married  to  Miss  Wintie  E.  Franklin,  a  daughter  of  J.  N.  and 
Sarah  (Chase)  Franklin,  both  deceased.  No  children  have  been  born  to 
the  second  union. 


616  History  of  McLean  County 

In  politics  Mr.  Strayer  is  a  Republican.  He  has  served  as  city  treas 
urer  of  Lexington,  school  treasurer,  member  of  the  school  board  and  sec- 
retary of  the  board  for  12  years,  chairman  of  the  county  board  and  he 
has  been  a  member  of  the  board  of  the  Smith  Library  and  treasurer  since 
its  organization  on  June  28,  1912.  Mr.  Strayer  is  a  member  of  the  Ma- 
sonic Lodge,  and  was  one  of  the  originators  of  the  Turkey  Creek  Golf  Club. 


Thomas  B.  Kilgore,  who  now  lives  retired  at  Bloomington,  is  a  vet- 
eran of  the  Civil  War  and  a  prominent  citizen  of  McLean  County.  He 
was  born  in  Franklin  County,  Ohio,  March  23,  1840,  and  is  the  son  of  John 
and  Malona  C.  (Beach)  Kilgore,  natives  of  Madison  County,  Ohio,  where 
the  former  was  born  Oct.  30,  1815,  and  the  latter  April  6,  1823.  The  pa- 
ternal grandparents,  Thomas  and  Jane  Kilgore,  were  born  in  Pennsylvania. 

John  Kilgore  first  acquired  100  acres  of  land  in  Ohio,  subsequently 
increasing  his  possessions  to  the  extent  of  256  acres  there.  On  this  farm 
he  lived  from  1839  until  1893.  At  one  time  he  was  also  the  owner  of  800 
acres  of  land  located  in  Lawndale  Township,  McLean  County,  111.  In  1893 
Mr.  Kilgore  and  his  wife  paid  a  visit  to  their  son,  Thomas  B.,  the  subject 
of  this  sketch,  in  Bloomington,  and  while  on  this  visit  Mr.  Kilgore  died. 
His  wife  died  April  25,  1905.  There  were  four  children  in  the  Kilgore 
family:  Albert,  deceased;  John  N.,  lives  at  Kenton,  Ohio;  Sarah,  de- 
ceased, was  the  wife  of  Samuel  Stauffer,  of  Colfax,  111. ;  and  Thomas  B., 
the  subject  of  this  sketch. 

Thomas  B.  Kilgore  received  his  education  in  the  district  schools  and 
also  attended  Ohio  Wesleyan  University.  He  was  reared  to  the  life  of  a 
farmer  and  assisted  his  father  in  the  farm  work  until  the  outbreak  of 
the  Civil  War.  In  1861  he  enlisted  in  the  First  Regiment  Ohio  Volunteer 
Cavalry,  organized  under  Colonel  Ransom,  and  during  his  service  took  part 
in  30  battles.  He  participated  in  the  battle  of  Corinth,  and  while  at 
Courtland,  Ala.,  the  battalion  of  which  he  was  a  member  was  surrounded 
and  captured.  Mr.  Kilgore  and  five  others  put  spurs  to  their  horses  and 
escaped  under  a  heavy  fire.  He  fought  at  Perryville,  Chicamauga,  Mis- 
sion Ridge,  the  Siege  of  Knoxville,  Dalton,  Kenesaw  Mountain,  the  Siege 
of  Atlanta,  and  in  many  other  engagements,  emerging  from  all  unharmed. 
After  the  war  Mr.  Kilgore  remained  with  his  father  on  the  farm.  On 
March  10,  1867,  he  came  to  Illinois  and  with  his  father's  assistance  bought 


X 
o 


History  of  McLean  County  617 

320  acres  of  land  in  Lawndale  Township,  McLean  County.  He  applied 
himself  diligently  to  work  and  prosperity  attended  his  exertions,  enabling 
him  in  a  short  time  to  add  160  acres  to  the  original  purchase.  Since  1888 
Mr.  Kilgore  has  lived  retired  in  Bloomington.  His  residence  is  located  at 
1006  East  Grove  Street. 

On  April  11,  1867,  Mr.  Kilgore  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Mary  E.  Batterton,  who  was  born  July  18,  1840,  the  daughter  of  Mar- 
tin and  America  (Taylor)  Batterton,  natives  of  Kentucky.  The  Batter- 
ton  family  came  to  Illinois  in  1830,  locating  in  Lawndale  Township,  Mc- 
Lean County.  Mrs.  Kilgore  had  one  sister,  Zerilda,  and  one  brother,  Ira. 
To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kilgore  four  children  were  born,  as  follows:  John  M., 
born  March  29,  1868;  Lizzie  M.,  born  June  1,  1871,  married  Dr.  Welsh, 
of  Lexington;  Maude  B.,  born  Aug.  1,  1877,  married  Albert  Vasey;  and 
Thomas  Beach,  born  May  16,  1881,  an  attorney.  Mrs.  Kilgore  died  April 
25,  1922,  and  is  buried  at  Colfax,  111. 

Mr.  Kilgore  is  a  Republican  and  he  and  his  family  are  members  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  He  is  a  32d  degree  Mason,  having  been  a 
member  of  that  organization  since  1873.  Mr.  Kilgore  is  a  substantial  citi- 
zen and  the  Kilgore  family  has  always  been  representative  of  the  best 
citizenship  in  the  county. 


L.  F.  Hyneman,  manager  of  the  Lexington  Telephone  Company,  is 
a  prominent  citizen  and  successful  business  man  of  McLean  County.  He 
was  born  at  Lexington,  July  8,  1879,  the  son  of  M.  M.  and  Mary  Jane 
(Wood)  Hyneman. 

The  Hyneman  family  came  to  Illinois  from  Monroe  County,  Ind., 
where  M.  M.  Hyneman  was  born  in  1833.  They  were  among  the  first 
settlers  of  Lexington,  where  Mr.  Hyneman  worked  at  his  trade  of  black- 
smith. He  later  carried  on  farming  and  stock  raising  and  now  lives 
retired  at  Lexington.  His  wife  died  in  1911  at  the  age  of  76  years.  They 
had  five  children,  as  follows:  Elizabeth,  married  H.  L.  Hyre,  lives  at 
Lexington;  Julia,  married  W.  C.  Knight,  lives  at  Grand  Junction,  Colo.; 
Addie,  married  Jacob  Brown,  lives  at  Yukon,  Okla. ;  Eva,  married  N.  F. 
McConnell,  lives  at  Lexington;  and  L.  F.,  the  subject  of  this  sketch. 

L.  F.  Hyneman  received  his  education  in  the  public  schools  of  Lex- 
ington and  attended  Fishburn  Military  Academy  at  Waynesburg,  Ky.     In 


618  History  of  McLean  County 

1897  he  inaugurated  telephone  service  at  Lexington,  having  built  an 
exchange  there.  Mr.  Hyneman  built  the  switch  board  and  installed  it 
himself  and  during  the  first  year  of  service  40  telephones  were  in  use, 
as  compared  with  600  now  used  at  Lexington.  Mr.  Hyneman  has  160 
miles  of  long  distance  lines  in  use  and  in  1907  a  modern  brick  building 
was  constructed  for  the  telephone  company,  which  is  20x32  feet  in  size 
and  of  fireproof  construction.  The  Lexington  Telephone  Company  was  the 
first  company  in  any  of  the  small  towns  to  install  underground  cables  and 
Mr.  Hyneman  is  among  the  pioneer  telephone  men  of  McLean  County. 

The  Lexington  Telephone  Company  was  incorporated  in  1905  for 
|20,000,  and  since  that  time  has  been  increased  to  $50,000.  The  company 
employes  six  operators  and  about  five  men  and  the  stockholders  are  citi- 
zens of  the  community. 

Mr.  Hyneman  was  married  on  Nov.  20,  1901,  to  Miss  Mae  LaFever,  a 
native  of  Mt.  Vernon,  Ohio,  and  the  daughter  of  William  and  Addie  (Guy) 
LaFever,  natives  of  Ohio,  who  settled  in  McLean  County  in  1885.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  LaFever  now  reside  at  Lexington.  To  L.  F.  and  Mae  (LaFever) 
Hyneman  three  children  have  been  born,  as  follows:  Lucile,  at  home; 
Lyle ;  and  Levin.. 

In  politics  Mr.  Hyneman  is  a  Republican  and  he  has  served  as  city 
alderman.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  and  belongs  to 
the  Knights  of  Pythias,  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  and  the 
Modern  Woodmen  of  America.  Mr.  Hyneman  is  a  man  of  excellent  char- 
acter, industrious  and  competent. 


George  J.  Smith,  a  well  known  citizen  of  McLean  County,  who  is  suc- 
cessfully engaged  in  the  general  merchandise  business  at  Lexington,  was 
born  at  Lexington,  March  16,  1863,  and  is  the  son  of  Milton  and  Lydin 
(Goddard)  Smith. 

Milton  Smith  was  born  in  Franklin  County,  Ky.,  Feb.  19,  1808,  and 
died  in  1887.  He  was  a  farmer  and  came  to  Illinois  in  1835,  making  the 
trip  on  horseback.  Mr.  Smith  helped  build  the  first  house  at  Lexington  and 
was  supervisor  of  the  county  board  in  Lexington  Townshop.  He  was  a 
large  landowner  and  cattle  feeder,  and  was  the  son  of  William  and  Obedi- 
ence Smith.  Lydia  (Goddard)  Smith  was  born  in  Indiana,  and  was  the 
daughter  of  Dr.  Abbott  Goddard,  a  pioneer  physician  of  McLean  County. 


History  of  McLean  County  619 

She  died  in  1890  at  the  age  of  70  years.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Milton  Smith  were 
the  parents  of  the  following  children:  Sarah,  the  widow  of  Willis 
Strayer,  lives  at  Lexington;  W.  A.,  a  retired  farmer,  lives  at  Lexington; 
Fletcher  M.,  lives  at  Everett,  Wash. ;  Carrie,  the  widow  of  A.  D.  Pierson, 
lives  at  Lexington;  Kate,  the  widow  of  L.  D.  Poole,  lives  at  Lexington; 
L.  H.,  dairyman,  lives  at  Lexington;  George  J.  ,the  subject  of  this  sketch; 
Estelle,  married  Harry  S.  Shade,  lives  at  Nomal;  and  Anna  Mary,  de- 
ceased, was  the  wife  of  George  B.  Okeson. 

George  J.  Smith  has  always  lived  at  Lexington  and  received  his  edu- 
cation in  the  public  schools  there  and  is  also  a  graduate  of  the  Blooming- 
ton  Business  College,  in  the  class  of  1884.  He  then  engaged  in  the  mer- 
cantile business  with  Lindsay  and  Son,  as  a  clerk.  Five  years  later  Mr. 
Smith  bought  the  interest  of  the  elder  Mr.  Lindsay,  and  formed  a  part- 
nership with  W.  C.  Lindsay,  and  since  that  time  the  firm  is  known  as 
Lindsay  and  Smith.  They  carry  a  complete  line  of  general  merchandise 
and  it  has  become  one  of  the  thriving  business  institutions  of  McLean 
County.  Besides  his  town  interests,  Mr.  Smith  owns  a  well-improved 
farm  of  250  acres  in  Lexington  Township. 

On  Sept.  20,  1888,  Mr.  Smith  was  married  to  Miss  Emma  Lindsay, 
a  native  of  Lexington,  and  the  daughter  of  William  and  Ruth  (Carlisle) 
Lindsay.  Mrs.  Smith  was  a  classmate  of  her  husband.  She  died  in  April, 
1899,  leaving  one  son,  Milton,  who  is  also  deceased.  Milton  Smith  was 
married  to  Miss  Rachael  Armstrong,  and  she  now  lives  with  her  father- 
in-law,  Mr.  Smith. 

Mr.  Smith  is  a  Republican  and  for  the  past  20  years  has  served  as  a 
member  of  the  school  board.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church 
and  is  a  substantial  and  highly  respected  citizen  of  McLean  County. 


W.  C.  Lindsay,  Sr.,  a  successful  merchant  at  Lexington,  Is  a  mem- 
ber of  one  of  McLean  County's  prominent  pioneer  families.  He  was 
born  at  Lexington,  July  21,  1856,  the  son  of  William  and  Ruth  (Carlisle) 
Lindsay. 

William  Lindsay,  an  early  settler  of  Lexington,  was  born  at  Glas- 
gow, Scotland,  in  1844  and  came  to  the  United  States  when  he  was  24 
years  of  age,  locating  at  Shippensburg,  Pa.  While  there  he  married  and 
for  the  next  ten  years  engaged  in  carpenter  and  construction  work.     In 


620  History  of  McLean  County 

1854  Mr.  Lindsay  came  to  Lexington,  111.,  where  he  followed  his  trade 
as  builder.  He  brought  10  carpenters  with  him  from  Pennsylvania  and 
built  many  homes  for  the  early  settlers.  During  the  Civil  War  Mr.  Lind- 
say engaged  in  the  general  mercantile  business  in  partnership  with  W.  M. 
Grier,  and  this  partnership  continued  until  1874.  Three  years  later  Mr. 
Lindsay  went  into  business  at  Lexington  with  his  son,  W.  C,  the  subject 
of  this  sketch,  and  the  firm  was  known  as  Lindsay  and  Son.  In  1893  he 
retired  from  business  and  died  on  July  24,  1894.  Mr.  Lindsay  was  an 
active  worker  in  the  Presbyterian  Church  and  was  an  elder  for  a  num- 
ber of  years.  He  gave  the  ground  where  the  church  now  stands  and 
also  laid  out  Lexington  City  Park  and  planted  trees,  which  is  known  now 
as  Lindsay  Park,  named  after  Mr.  Lindsay.  Mrs.  Lindsay  was  born  at 
Shippensburg,  Pa.,  in  1824  and  died  in  1892.  They  were  the  parents  of 
eight  children,  three  of  whom  are  now  living,  as  follows:  Alice,  mar- 
ried W.  M.  Grier,  lives  at  Phoenix,  Ariz.;  John  H.,  lives  at  Lexington; 
and  W.  C,  the  subject  of  this  sketch. 

W.  C.  Lindsay,  Sr.,  was  educated  in  the  schools  of  Lexington  and 

0 

after  finishing  his  high  school  course  he  was  employed  as  clerk  in  his 
father's  store.  In  1877  he  went  into  business  with  his  father  and  in 
1893  purchased  his  father's  interest  in  the  business.  The  firm  was  then 
known  as  W.  C.  Lindsay,  and  in  1896  Mr.  Lindsay  formed  a  partnership 
with  George  W.  Smith,  which  still  exists.  They  have  a  fine  store  and 
carry  a  complete  line  of  groceries  and  general  merchandise. 

On  April  8,  1885,  Mr.  Lindsay  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Josephine  Elders,  a  native  of  Bloomington,  born  July  17,  1860,  and  the 
daughter  of  Dr.  C.  S.  and  Mary  (Martin)  Elders.  Dr.  Elders  was  a  probi- 
nent  physician  of  Chenoa,  Lexington  and  Bloomington.  To  W.  C.  and 
Josephine  (Elders)  Lindsay  five  children  have  been  born,  as  follows: 
Ruth,  at  home;  Dr.  Charles,  a  physician  in  Chicago  who  served  through- 
out the  World  War;  Mary,  employed  in  her  father's  store;  W.  C,  Jr.,  man- 
ager of  the  Lindsay  and  Smith  grocery  department,  a  sketch  of  whom  ap- 
pears in  this  volume ;  and  Louisa,  at  home. 

Mr.  Lindsay  is  a  Republican  and  has  been  a  member  of  the  school 
board  for  a  number  of  years.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church.  Mr.  Lindsay  has  an  extensive  acquaintance  in  McLean  County 
and  is  recognized  as  a  dependable  citizen. 


History  of  McLean  County  621 

W.  C.  Lindsay,  Jr.,  president  of  the  Commercial  Club  of  Lexington, 
is  a  progressive  and  enterprising  young  business  man  of  McLean  County. 
He  was  born  at  Lexington,  Sept.  2,  1895,  and  is  the  son  of  W.  C.  and 
Josephine  (Elder)  Lindsay,  a  sketch  of  whom  appears  in  these  volumes. 

W.  C.  Lindsay,  Sr.,  is  a  prominent  business  man  of  McLean  County 
and  the  Lindsay  family  are  among  the  oldest  families  of  the  county.  Mr. 
Lindsay  owns  a  large  store  at  Lexington  and  is  in  partnership  with  George 
W.  Smith.  They  carry  a  complete  line  of  general  merchandise  and  have 
an  extensive  business.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lindsay  have  five  children,  as  fol- 
lows: Ruth,  at  home;  Dr.  Charles,  a  physician  at  Chicago;  Mary,  at  home; 
W.  C,  Jr.,  the  subject  of  this  sketch;  and  Louisa,  at  home. 

W.  C.  Lindsay,  Jr.,  has  always  lived  at  Lexington.  He  received  his 
education  in  the  public  and  high  schools  there  and  attended  the  state 
university,  where  he  took  a  commercial  course.  Mr.  Lindsay  was  then 
engaged  as  clerk  in  his  father's  store  at  Lexington  and  is  now  manager 
of  the  grocery  department. 

In  1922  when  the  Commercial  Club  was  organized  at  Lexington  Mr. 
Lindsay  was  made  president,  which  office  he  now  holds. 

On  May  18,  1917,  Mr.  Lindsay  was  married  to  Miss  Kathryn  Flesher, 
a  native  of  Lexington,  and  the  daughter  of  H.  E.  and  Minnie  (Yoder) 
Flesher,  a  sketch  of  whom  appears  in  this  volume.  To  this  union  one  child 
has  been  born,  Helen  Annette,  born  June  10,  1918. 

In  politics  Mr.  Lindsay  is  a  Republican.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church  and  belongs  to  the  Masonic  Lodge  and  the  Knights 
of  Pythias.  Mr.  Lindsay  is  a  capable  young  man,  one  whose  success  in 
life  is  assured  by  virtue  of  his  industry  and  training. 


Nettie  Bills  Dement,  superintendent  of  McLean  County  schools,  is 
without  doubt  one  of  the  prominent  women  of  McLean  County.  She  was 
born  eight  miles  east  of  Lexington,  111.,  Aug.  5,  1861,  and  is  the  daughter 
of  Dr.  William  W.  and  Margaret  A.  (Myers)  Bills. 

Dr.  William  W.  Bills  was  a  prominent  physician  of  Missouri  for 
many  years,  and  a  native  of  Bourbon  County,  Ky.,  where  he  was  born 
May  11,  1837.  He  was  the  son  of  Dr.  Alvin  and  Mary  Nelson  (Sims) 
Bills,  the  former  a  native  of  North  Carolina  and  the  latter  of  Culpeper 
County,  Va. 

To  Dr.  William  W.  and  Margaret  A.  (Myers)  Bills  the  following  chil- 
dren were  born:    Nettie  Bills  Dement,  the  subject  of  this  sketch;  George 


622  History  of  McLean  County 

W.,  deceased,  was  a  prominent  newspaper  man,  further  mention  of  whom 
is  made  below;  and  Ella  May,  married  E.  G.  Hayward,  and  they  live  at 
Cooksville,  111.,  where  he  is  a  grain  dealer. 

George  W.  Bills  established  a  newspaper  at  Peoria,  111.,  which  he  was 
conducting  at  the  time  of  his  death  in  1915.  He  was  married  to  Miss 
Sadie  Jeffries,  a  native  of  Bloomington,  and  to  this  union  one  son  was 
born,  Alvin  B.,  who  lives  at  Washington,  D.  C. 

Nettie  Bills  Dement  was  reared  on  a  farm  and  attended  the  district 
schools,  and  when  she  was  12  years  of  age  her  parents  moved  to  Pleas- 
ant Hill,  Mo.,  where  she  attended  high  school.  Later,  she  attended  War- 
rensburg  Normal  School  at  Warrensburg,  Mo.,  and  Christian  College  at 
Camden  Point,  Mo.  In  June,  1881,  Mrs.  Dement  began  teaching  school  in 
District  No.  80  in  Randolph  Township,  McLean  County,  where  she  re- 
mained for  three  years,  at  which  time  she  organized  the  school  at  Colfax, 
111.,  and  was  made  superintendent.  President  Edwards  of  Normal  and 
County  Superintendent  Miller  were  her  helpmates  in  this  project.  In 
1892  Mrs.  Dement  resigned  her  position  and  the  following  year  on  Dec. 
25th  she  was  married  to  George  R.  Dement,  a  native  of  Lexington,  111., 
and  the  son  of  George  T.  and  Ann  E.  (Richmond)  Dement.  He  was  one 
of  the  most  successful  and  prominent  men  of  McLean  County.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  George  R.  Dement  have  had  no  children  but  reared  Mrs.  Dement's 
nephew,  Alvin  B.  Bills,  and  he  made  his  home  with  them  until  he  was  18 
years  of  age. 

After  her  marriage,  Nettie  Bills  Dement  lived  at  Quincy,  111.,  for  a 
short  time,  where  her  husband  was  engaged  in  the  insurance  business, 
and  they  later  moved  to  Lexington,  on  account  of  the  illness  of  Mr.  De- 
ment's mother.  She  resumed  her  teaching  there  and  taught  for  25  years 
and  spent  each  summer  either  in  teaching  school  or  attending  Chicago 
University  and  Chicago  Institute.  Among  the  numerous  courses  Mrs. 
Dement  has  taken  is  a  course  in  home  economics.  She  has  always  been 
ambitious  and  persevering,  which  accounts  for  her  unusual  success  in  life. 

In  politics  Mrs.  Dement  is  a  Democrat  and  in  1923  she  was  elected 
superintendent  of  McLean  County  schools.  She  is  a  member  of  the  State 
Parent  Teachers'  Association,  the  McLean  County  Historical  Society,  the 
Illinois  State  Teachers'  Association,  the  National  Educational  Association 
and  the  Women's  Christian  Temperance  Union.  Nettie  Bills  Dement  is  a 
woman  of  deep  convictions,  unselfish  principles,  and  strong  attachments. 
Since  childhood  she  has  been  a  member  of  the  Christian  Church. 


History  of  McLean  County  623 

Dr.  William  Henry  Welch,  a  well  known  veterinarian  at  Lexington, 
is  a  member  of  one  of  McLean  County's  prominent  pioneer  families.  He 
was  born  on  a  farm  four  and  one-half  miles  southeast  of  Bloomington, 
May  7,  1871,  the  son  of  Jeremiah  and  Sarah  (Myers)  Welch. 

Jeremiah  Welch  was  a  native  of  Vigo  County,  Ind.,  born  in  1826,  the 
son  of  Solomon  and  Susan  (Jacoby)  Welch.  He  came  to  McLean  County 
in  1835  and  located  on  land  near  Bloomington  and  became  one  of  the 
leading  farmers  and  stockmen  of  that  section.  Mr.  Welch  was  also  a 
dealer  in  horses  and  on  different  occasions  sold  three  teams  of  fine  horses 
for  $1,000.00  a  team.  He  died  in  1897,  and  his  wife,  who  was  a  native 
of  Kentucky,  died  Jan.  11,  1906.  She  was  the  daughter  of  John  G.  and 
Mary  (Lindley)  Myers,  who  settled  on  the  present  site  of  the  McLean 
County  farm.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jeremiah  Welch  were  the  parents  of  five 
children,  as  follows :  Mary,  deceased,  was  the  wife  of  Louis  K.  Calhoun ; 
Louella,  deceased ;  Minerva,  married  Charles  C.  Wagner,  lives  in  Bloom- 
ington; John  F.,  engaged  in  the  real  estate  business  at  Bloomington;  and 
Dr.  William  Henry,  the  subject  of  this  sketch. 

Dr.  William  Henry  Welch  spent  his  boyhood  on  the  farm  and  at- 
tended the  district  schools,  Illinois  Wesleyan  University,  and  was  gradu- 
ated from  the  Chicago  Veterinary  College  in  1892.  He  then  located  at 
Lexington  to  practice  his  profession,  and  since  that  time  has  built  up  a 
splendid  practice.  Dr.  Welch  is  widely  known  as  a  man  of  exceptional 
ability  in  his  profession. 

On  May  7,  1895,  Dr.  Welch  was  married  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Kilgore, 
a  native  of  Lawndale  Township,  McLean  County,  born  June  1,  1871,  and 
the  daughter  of  Thomas  B.  and  Mary  E.  (Batterton)  Kilgore,  the  former 
a  native  of  Franklin  County,  Ohio,  and  the  latter  of  Kentucky.  Mr.  Kil- 
gore now  lives  retired  at  Bloomington.  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Welch  have  two 
daughters,  Eleanor,  a  graduate  of  the  Frances  Shimer  School  of  the  Uni- 
versity of  Chicago,  and  Laurastine,  a  senior  in  Lexington  Community 
High  School.  Mrs.  Welch  attended  Illinois  Wesleyan  University  and  is 
a  prominent  club  woman  of  Lexington.  She  served  as  vice-president  of 
the  McLean  County  Home  Bureau,  is  a  charter  member  of  the  Women's 
Club,  and  has  held  other  offices  of  importance. 

Dr.  Welch  was  elected  president  of  the  American  Veterinary  Medi- 
cal Association  at  its  annual  meeting  held  in  St.  Louis,  Aug.  28,  1922.  He 
has  served  as  secretary  of  the  Illinois  State  Veterinary  Medical  Associa- 
tion from  1901  until  1906,  and  was  honored  by  his  colleagues  with  the 


624  History  of  McLean  County 

presidency  of  that  association  in  1906,  and  under  his  administration  the 
state  association  increased  its  membership  from  70  to  300.  In  connec- 
tion with  his  practice,  Dr.  Welch  took  up  the  breeding  of  Percheron 
horses  and  continued  in  this  line  until  1916.  His  farm  was  the  home  of 
"Apollon,"  considered  by  many  as  the  greatest  son  of  "Besique."  Dr. 
Welch  still  owns  a  farm  of  242  acres  in  Hardin  County,  Ohio,  but  sold  his 
farm  in  Livingston  County,  111.,  in  1912. 

Dr.  Welch  is  a  Republican  and  has  served  as  a  member  of  the  school 
board  for  15  years  and  also  as  a  member  of  the  city  council.  He  served 
as  mayor  of  Lexington  for  two  years  and  is  a  very  active  member  of  the 
Chamber  of  Commerce.  Dr.  Welch  is  vice-president  and  booster  of  the 
local  chautauqua  association.  He  is  a  member  of  the  board  of  trustees 
of  the  Methodist  Church,  and  is  greatly  interested  in  boy  scout  work.  He 
is  prominent  in  Masonic  circles  as  a  member  of  the  Consistory,  Chapter 
and  Council,  has  held  a  commission  as  grand  lecturer  for  six  years  and 
served  as  district  deputy  grand  master  for  two  years,  and  has  been  past 
worshipful  master  of  his  lodge. 

Dr.  Welch  is  one  of  McLean  County's  broad-minded  and  public  spir- 
ited citizens. 


Dr.  Charles  E.  Chapin,  a  widely  known  physician  of  McLean  County, 
who  has  been  successfully  engaged  in  the  practice  of  his  profession  at 
Bloomington  for  over  26  years,  is  a  native  of  Illinois,  and  a  member  of 
one  of  the  pioneer  families  of  this  state.  He  was  born  in  DeWitt  County, 
Jan.  29,  1866,  a  son  of  Stillman  A.  and  Susan    (Lafferty)    Chapin. 

Stillman  A.  Chapin  was  born  in  Madison  County,  111.,  in  1821  and  his 
wife  was  a  native  of  Ohio,  born  in  1823.  Mr.  Chapin  was  engaged  in 
farming  for  many  years  in  DeWitt  County,  111.,  and  in  1892  removed  to 
Holder,  McLean  County,  where  they  spent  the  remainder  of  their  lives. 
They  were  the  parents  of  seven  children,  as  follows:  John,  who  died 
at  the  age  of  four  years;  Dr.  Hiram  S.,  deceased;  and  Dr.  Samuel  L., 
deceased,  both  of  whom  were  physicians ;  Mary  H. ;  William  A.,  died  in 
infancy ;  Finis  Ewing,  died  at  the  age  of  three  years ;  and  Dr.  Charles  E., 
the  subject  of  this  sketch. 

Dr.  Charles  E.  Chapin  was  reared  on  his  father's  farm  in  DeWitt 
County  and  received  his  education  in  the  district  schools  and  the  Clinton 


DR.    CHARLES    E.    CHAPIN. 


DR.    EDSON   B.   HART. 


DR.   JOSEPH   K.   P.   HAWKS. 


DR.    HARLEY   H.   HART. 
Died   April    2,    1924. 


THE    FIRM    OF    CHAPIN,    HART,    HAWKS    AND    HART, 
PHYSICIANS  AND   SURGEONS,   BLOOMINGTON,   ILL. 


"W 


History  of  McLean  County  625 

High  School.  He  entered  Rush  Medical  College  at  Chicago,  where  he 
was  graduated  with  the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Medicine  in  1891.  He  then 
engaged  in  the  practice  of  his  profession  at  Melvin,  111.,  for  three  years. 
Later  he  served  on  the  medical  staff  of  the  Hospital  for  the  Insane  at 
Jacksonville  until  1897.  He  then  came  to  Bloomington,  where  he  has 
since  been  engaged  in  practice,  meeting  with  uniform  success  until  he 
has  become  one  of  the  leading  physicians  of  this  section  of  the  state. 

Dr.  Chapin  was  married  May  8,  1889,  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Sterling, 
a  native  of  McLean  County,  and  a  daughter  of  Smauel  and  Martha  (West) 
Sterling,  early  settlers  in  the  vicinity  of  LeRoy,  McLean  County.  To  Dr. 
and  Mrs.  Chapin  has  been  born  one  child,  Arnett  Sterling  Chapin. 

Dr.  Chapin  is  a  Democrat  and  he  and  Mrs.  Chapin  are  members 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  He  is  a  member  of  the  County, 
State,  and  American  Medical  Association. 


Dr.  Edson  B.  Hart  has  been  a  successful  and  well  known  physician 
and  surgeon  of  Bloomington  for  the  past  21  years.  He  was  born  at 
El  Paso,  111.,  in  1868,  and  is  the  son  of  Allen  and  Martha  A.  (Baldridge) 
Hart. 

Allen  Hart  was  a  native  of  New  York  city.  When  he  was  a  young 
man  he  went  to  Zanesville,  Ohio,  where  he  engaged  in  the  mercantile 
business.  He  was  among  the  early  settlers  of  Woodford  County,  111., 
having  come  here  before  the  Illinois  Central  Railroad  was  built.  He  pur- 
chased land  four  miles  west  of  Kappa.  He  died  at  El  Paso  in  1880.  Mrs. 
Hart,  who  was  born  in  Ohio,  lives  at  1112  Fell  Avenue,  Bloomington.  To 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hart  seven  children  were  born  as  follows:  Harvey,  an 
attorney,  who  died  five  years  ago;  Laura  M.,  lives  at  1112  Fell  Ave., 
Bloomington;  W.  A.,  LaJunta,  Colo.;  Clara  Kennedy,  lives  at  Normal, 
111.;  John  H.,  lives  at  401  Phoenix  Ave.,  Bloomington;  Dr.  Edson  B.,  the 
subject  of  this  sketch;  and  Esther  Hawks,  who  lives  with  her  mother 
and  sister. 

Dr.  Edson  B.  Hart  was  reared  on  his  father's  farm  in  Woodford 
County  and  was  graduated  from  Illinois  Wesleyan  University  and  from 
Northwestern  University  Medical  School  in  1900.  His  graduate  work 
was  taken  at  Lincoln  hospital  in  New  York  city  in  1902.  Dr.  Hart  then 
came  to  Bloomington  and  took  up  the  practice  of  medicine  and  surgery. 

(38) 


626  History  of  McLean  County 

He  has  been  a  member  of  the  Brokaw  hospital  staff  since  1903  and 
is  known  throughout  the  county  as  a  thoroughly  competent  physician 
and  surgeon. 

In  1911  Dr.  Hart  was  married  to  Miss  Louis  Howell,  a  native  of 
Arrowsmith,  111.,  and  the  daughter  of  Vinton  and  Frances  (Hill)  Howell, 
the  former  a  native  of  Ohio  and  the  latter  of  Vermont.  Mr.  Howell 
died  in  1911  and  his  wife  died  in  1903.  To.  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Hart  four 
children  have  been  born:     Jane,  Ruth,  Edson  and  Harvey. 

In  politics  Dr.  Hart  is  a  Republican,  but  in  local  affairs  is  an  inde- 
pendent voter.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Grace  Methodist  Church  and  his 
wife  belongs  to  the  Episcopal  Church.  Dr.  Hart  says  the  only  fine  ever 
paid  by  him  is  his  income  tax,  which  he  considers  a  penalty  imposed 
on  thrift. 


Dr.  Joseph  K.  P.  Hawks,  who  has  practiced  his  profession  in  Bloom- 
ington  for  over  23  years  with  honor  and  exceptional  ability,  is  a  veteran 
of  the  World  War.  He  was  born  in  Bloomington,  Aug.  9,  1873,  and  is 
a  son  of  Samuel  L.  and  Emeline   (Preston)   Hawks. 

Samuel  L.  Hawks  was  born  in  Scotland,  March  7,  1832,  and  his  wife 
was  born  at  Beverly,  Mass.,  Aug.  29,  1840.  In  1856  they  came  to  Bloom- 
ington where  Mr.  Hawks  was  employed  as  engineer  on  the  Chicago  & 
Alton  Railroad.  Later  he  was  appointed  superintendent  of  air  brakes. 
He  was  the  engineer  on  the  train  that  took  the  Bloomington  fire  depart- 
ment to  Chicago  during  the  big  fire  in  that  city  in  1871.  Mr.  Hawks  died 
Jan.  2,  1905,  and  his  wife  died  Dec.  15,  1916.  They  were  the  parents  of 
one  child,  Dr.  Joseph  K.  P.  Hawks,  the  subject  of  this  sketch.  By  a  former 
marriage  Mr.  Hawks  had  two  sons,  Robert  E.,  and  Lute  B.,  both  de- 
ceased. 

Dr.  Hawks  was  reared  and  educated  in  Bloomington  and  is  a  gradu- 
ate of  Illinois  Wesleyan  University  and  of  the  medical  school  of  North- 
western University.  He  has  practiced  his  profession  in  Bloomington  since 
1900,  and  for  13  years  was  associated  with  the  late  Dr.  W.  E.  Guthrie, 
and  since  then  has  been  associated  with  Drs.  C.  E.  Chapin  and  E.  B.  Hart. 
From  1908  to  1918  Dr.  Hawks  was  attendant  physician  of  the  Soldiers' 
Orphans'  Home  at  Normal.    He  is  a  member  of  the  staff  of  Brokaw  Hos- 


History  of  McLean  County  627 

pital  and  specializes  in  surgery.  Besides  his  extensive  private  practice, 
Dr.  Hawks  is  surgeon  for  the  Illinois  Light  &  Power  Company,  the  New 
York  Central  Railroad  and  the  Nickel  Plate  Railroad. 

During  the  World  War  Dr.  Hawks  volunteered  for  service  in  May, 
1918,  and  received  his  commission  as  captain  in  the  medical  corps,  Aug. 
31,  1918,  with  orders  to  report  to  the  Medical  Officers  Training  Camp 
at  Camp  Greenleaf,  Ga.  After  a  few  weeks  in  the  training  camp,  he 
was  ordered  to  report  to  Evacuation  Hospital  No.  46  for  service  over- 
seas. This  unit  was  not  sent  across  and  he  remained  with  it  until  it 
was  demobolized,  receiving  his  discharge,  Dec.  24,  1918.  Dr.  Hawks' 
offices  are  located  at  212   Griesheim   Building. 

On  Feb.  3,  1912,  Dr.  Hawks  was  married  to  Miss  Esther  D.  Hart, 
a  native  of  Kappa,  111.,  and  the  daughter  of  Allen  and  Martha  Anne 
(Baldridge)  Hart,  former  a  native  of  New  York  and  the  latter  of  Ohio. 
Mr.  Hart  died  in  1879  and  his  widow  resides  in  Bloomington.  To  Dr. 
and  Mrs.  Hawks  two  children  have  been  born :  Esther  Josephine,  a  stud- 
ent, and  Allen  Hart,  now  three  years  of  age. 

Dr.  Hawks  is  a  Republican  and  a  member  of  the  First  Presbyterian 
Church.  His  wife  belongs  to  the  Grace  Methodist  Church.  He  is  a 
member  of  Wade  Barney  Lodge  No.  512,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  DeMolay  Com- 
mandery,  Knight  Templars,  and  Bloomington  Consistory.  Dr.  Hawks  is 
interested  in  agriculture  and  both  he  and  his  wife  own  and  operate  farms 
in  McLean   County. 


Dr.  HarJan  H.  Hart  is  a  prominent  young  physician  and  surgeon 
of  Bloomington,  where  he  was  born  May  20,  1894.  He  is  a  son  of  Harvey 
and  Gertrude  (Carlock)  Hart. 

Harvey  Hart  was  born  on  a  farm  west  of  Kappa,  111.,  where  he  spent 
his  boyhood.  He  taught  school  in  La  Junta,  Colo.,  in  early  life  after 
finishing  college  at  Illinois  Wesleyan.  He  later  returned  to  Bloomington 
and  studied  law,  graduating  from  Wesleyan  Law  School  in  1892.  After 
being  admitted  to  the  bar  Mr.  Hart  practiced  his  profession  in  Blooming- 
ton until  the  time  of  his  death,  Aug.  22,  1916.  He  was  a  Republican 
and  held  the  office  of  Master  in  Chancery  at  the  time  of  his  death.  Mr. 
Hart  was  a  law  partner  of  R.  L.  Fleming.     Mrs.  Hart,   who  was  born 


628  History  of  McLean  County 

on  a  farm  north  of  Carlock,  111.,  now  lives  at  1113  East  Monroe  Street, 
Bloomington.  There  were  two  children  in  the  Hart  family:  Dean  C, 
born  in  December,  1890,  died  in  July,  1911;  and  Dr.  Harlan  H.,  the  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch. 

Dr.  Harlan  H.  Hart  attended  the  public  schools  of  Bloomington  and 
Illinois  Wesleyan  University.  He  was  graduated  from  Northwestern  Uni- 
versity Medical  School  in  1920  and  served  his  internship  in  Lakeside  Hos- 
pital, Cleveland,  Ohio.  On  Aug.  1,  1921,  Dr.  Hart  began  the  practice 
of  medicine  and  surgery  in  Bloomington,  -where  he  is  associated  with 
the  firm  of  Hart  and  Hawks. 

On  Sept.  27,  1919,  Dr.  Hart  was  married  in  Chicago  to  Miss  Rachel 
Harber,  a  native  of  Bloomington,  and  a  daughter  of  Edgar  and  Fannie 
(Price)  Harber,  natives  of  Illinois.  Mr.  Harber  died  in  1906  and  his 
wife  died  four  years  later. 

In  politics  Dr.  Hart  is  identified  with  the  Republican  party.  He  is 
a  member  of  the  Christian  Church  and  is  a  progressive  man  in  his  pro- 
fession. 


Tilden  M.  Patton,  well  known  mayor,  prosperous  farmer  and  insur- 
ance writer  of  Lexington,  is  descended  from  one  of  McLean  County's 
oldest  and  most  prominent  families.  He  was  born  at  Lexington,  111., 
Sept.  20,  1886,  and  is  the  son  of  William  and  Anna  (Woodard)  Patton. 

The  Pattons  were  the  first  white  settlers  of  Lexington  Township 
and  John  Patton,  great  grandfather  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  built 
the  first  log  cabin  in  Section  22,  Lexington  Township,  which,  still  stands. 
It  was  built  in  1820  and  John  Patton  was  the  only  white  man  in  the  town- 
ship that  attended  the  log  raising.  Shortly  afterward  his  family  built  a 
log  Methodist  Church  at  Pleasant  Hill,  which  was  one  of  the  earliest 
churches  of  the  county.  William  Patton  was  a  prominent  pioneer  farmer 
of  McLean  County  and  he  married  Miss  Kate  Cane,  a  native  of  Indiana, 
and  to  this  union  several  children  were  born,  among  them  being  William, 
father  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch. 

William  Patton  was  born  Aug.  11,  1852,  and  died  March  20,  1912. 
He  was  a  successful  farmer  like  his  father  William  and  grandfather  John, 
and  owned  one  of  the  well  improved  farms  of  Lexington  Township. 


History  of  McLean  County  629 

Tilden  M.  Patton's  maternal  grandfather,  James  Woodard,  was  reared 
to  manhood  on  his  father's  farm,  and  received  his  education  in  the  rural 
schools.  He  remained  with  his  parents  until  he  was  23  years  old,  when 
he  was  married  to  Miss  Luana  Evans,  daughter  of  Samuel  Evans  of  Mor- 
gan County,  Ind.  After  his  marriage  he  settled  on  a  farm  six  miles  south- 
east of  Lexington,  owned  by  Mrs.  Smith,  which  consisted  of  98  acres, 
which  he  afterward  purchased.  At  this  time  Mr.  Woodard  had  but  little 
means  and  went  in  debt  for  two-thirds  of  the  little  farm  he  purchased. 
To  this  he  added  1700  acres  more  of  McLean  County  land.  At  his  death, 
in  addition  to  his  land,  he  was  a  large  stockholder  in  the  Peoples  Bank 
and  owned  something  over  $100,000  worth  of  personal  property.  He 
died  in  1913,  and  his  wife  1909.  He  and  his  good  wife  were  members  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 

In  the  year  1875,  on  the  18th  day  of  March,  William  Patton  was 
married  to  Miss  Anna  Woodard,  the  oldest  daughter  of  James  and  Luana 
Woodard.  Anna  Patton  was  born  in  Morgan  County,  Ind.,  Dec.  1,  1856. 
She  is  now  one  of  Lexington's  large  land  owners  and  a  stockholder  in  the 
Peoples  Bank.  To  them  were  born  three  children,  of  whom  only  our 
subject,  Tilden,  is  living.  When  Tilden  was  five  years  old  his  parents 
moved  to  Clinton,  Mo.,  where  he  spent  his  first  eight  years  of  schooling. 
From  there  they  moved  to  Jackson  county,  Ore.,  where  he  finished  his 
education  by  graduating  from  the  high  school  of  Central  Point,  Ore., 
and  he  also  attended  business  college  at  that  place. 

In  his  early  manhood  he  was  employed  in  the  gold  mines  of  the 
western  coast.  In  the  year  1907,  Tilden,  with  his  parents,  moved  back  to 
Illinois  on  their  farm,  five  miles  southeast  of  Lexington,  at  which  place 
he  was  successfully  engaged  in  farming  and  stock  raising  until  1915  when 
he  moved  to  Lexington  and  engaged  in  the  insurance  business.  Mr.  Pat- 
ton is  a  large  land  owner  in  Lexington  Township  and  owns  160  acres  in 
Indiana,  and  is  one  of  the  largest  stockholders  in  the  Peoples  Bank  of 
which  he  is  a  director.  He  was  elected  mayor  of  Lexington  in  April, 
1923,  and  since  the  beginning  of  his  administration  much  has  been  done 
in  the  way  of  local  improvements  for  Lexington.  The  streets  are  to  be 
paved  and  other  important  plans  for  the  betterment  of  the  community 
will  be  carried  out. 

On  July  27,  1909,  Mr.  Patton  was  married  to  Miss  Rachael  Bishop, 
a  native  of  Lexington,  born  May  15,  1892,  and  the  daughter  of  George  W. 


630  History  of  McLean  County 

and  Kate  (Hill)  Bishop.  Mr.  Bishop  lives  on  his  farm  in  Lexington  Town- 
ship and  his  wife  is  deceased.    Mrs.  Patton  died  June  15,  1920. 

After  the  death  of  Mrs.  Patton,  Mr.  Tilden  Patton  adopted  a  child, 
Helen,  born  July  7,  1911,  which  he  desires  to  raise  as  his  own  child.  He 
and  his  mother,  together  with  his  adopted  daughter  Helen  Patton,  are 
living  together  at  their  home  in  Lexington. 

Mr.  Patton  is  a  director  of  the  Peoples  Bank  of  Lexington  and  he 
belongs  to  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  where  he  devotes  most  of  his  interests, 
and  is  a  32nd  degree  Mason  and  Shriner.  He  is  one  of  the  enterprising 
and  public  spirited  men  of  McLean  County.  Mr.  Patton  is  a  Democrat,  a 
member  of  the  school  board  and  has  served  as  alderman  since  1915. 


Dr.  L.  M.  Magill,  a  well  known  and  successful  dentist  of  Lexington 
was  born  there,  Nov.  26,  1871,  the  son  of  M.  and  Frances  Susan  (Max- 
well) Magill. 

M.  Magill  was  a  native  of  Erie  County,  Pa.,  born  in  1821,  and  he  came 
to  Lexington,  111.,  in  the  early  forties,  where  he  worked  at  his  trade  of 
blacksmith  and  wagon  maker.  Some  of  the  wagons  made  by  Mr.  Magill 
are  still  in  use  in  McLean  County.  He  was  married  the  first  time  in  Penn- 
sylvania to  Miss  Mary  Luce,  who  died  shortly  after  they  came  to  Illinois. 
To  that  union  four  children  were  born,  all  of  whom  are  now  deceased.  Mr. 
Magill  later  married  Mrs.  Frances  Susan  Maxwell  Shade,  a  native  of 
Hagerstown,  Md.,  born  in  1831.  By  a  former  marriage  to  Lewis  Shade, 
Mrs.  Magill  had  four  children,  one  of  whom  is  now  living,  William  P., 
who  lives  at  Decatur,  111.  To  M.  and  Frances  Susan  (Maxwell)  Magill  two 
children  were  born,  as  follows:  Garnett,  married  C.  G.  Heuring,  lives  in 
California;  and  Dr.  L.  M.,  the  subject  of  this  sketch.  Mr.  Magill  died  in 
1895  and  his  wife  died  in  1892. 

Dr.  L.  M.  Magill  was  reared  in  Lexington  and  received  his  education 
in  the  public  and  high  schools  there,  after  which  he  attended  the  Chi- 
cago College  of  Dental  Surgery.  After  receiving  his  degree,  Dr.  Magill 
practiced  dentistry  at  Wenona,  III,  for  13  years  and  in  1909  located  at 
Lexington,  where  he  is  now  located.  He  has  an  extensive  practice  and 
is  efficient  in  his  work. 

On  June  8,  1910,  Dr.  Magill  was  married  to  Miss  Katharine  Calhoun, 
a  native  of  Iroquois  County,  111.,  and  the  daughter  of  Rev.  J.  D.  and  Vina 


History  of  McLean  County  631 

(Robinson)  Calhoun.  Rev.  Calhoun  served  as  pastor  of  Methodist  Churches 
for  50  years  and  is  now  pastor  of  the  Federated  Churches  at  Metamora, 
111.    To.  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Magill  one  child  has  been  born,  Lewis  Malcolm. 

Dr.  Magill  is  a  Democrat  and  is  secretary  of  the  Smith  Library  at 
Lexington.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Church  and  belongs  to  the 
Knights  of  Pythias,  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America,  and  is  a  32d  degree 
Mason  and  Shriner.  He  has  long  been  associated  with  musical  interests 
of  his  home  town,  having  been  an  active  member  of  the  Lexington  band 
and  serving  several  terms  as  president  of  the  Music  Club.  Dr.  Magill  is 
a  substantial  citizen  and  stands  high  in  his  profession. 


John  L.  Langstaff,  well  known  retired  banker  of  Lexington,  and  a 
leading  citizen  of  McLean  County,  was  born  on  a  farm  in  Licking  County, 
Ohio,  June  14,  1841,  the  son  of  Henry  and  Elsie  (Wintermute)  Langstaff. 

The  Langstaff  family  came  to  Illinois  in  1841  from  Licking  County, 
Ohio,  where  Henry  Langstaff  was  born.  He  worked  as  a  machinist  and 
pattern  maker  and  helped  make  the  first  reaper  used  in  this  part  of  the 
country,  which  was  made  by  Flag  and  Ewing  of  Bloomington.  Mrs.  Lang- 
staff was  born  near  Brownsville,  Fayette  County,  Pa.,  and  she  and  her 
husband,  now  deceased,  are  buried  in  the  Evergreen  Cemetery  near  Col- 
fax, 111.  They  had  five  children,  two  of  whom  are  now  living,  as  follows: 
John  L.,  the  subject  of  this  sketch;  and  Dr.  Henry  W.,  a  physician,  lives 
at  Colfax,  111. 

John  L.  Langstaff  lived  in  Bloomington  until  he  was  14  years  old, 
and  his  family  then  moved  to  a  farm  in  Martin  Township,  McLean  County, 
where  Mr.  Langstaff  lived  until  he  was  17  years  of  age.  He  received  his 
education  in  the  district  schools  and  attended  Wesleyan  University  at 
Bloomington  and  Bryant  and  Stratton  College  in  Chicago.  After  finish- 
ing his  school  work,  Mr.  Langstaff  was  employed  as  bookkeeper  for  Charles 
E.  Brown,  a  contractor  of  Evanston,  111.,  where  he  remained  for  seven 
years.  In  1870  he  came  to  Lexington  and  was  engaged  as  bookkeeper  in 
the  Harness  and  Van  Dolah  Bank  and  later  as  assistant  cashier.  Mr. 
Langstaff  continued  in  the  employ  of  that  bank  for  25  years  and  after  the 
death  of  Mr.  Harness  he  was  made  cashier  of  The  State  Bank  at  Lexing- 
ton, which  office  he  held  for  nine  years,  retiring  from  the  banking  busi- 


632  History  of  McLean  County 

ness  in  1908.  He  was  one  of  the  organizers  of  The  Peoples  Bank  of  Lex- 
ington and  also  served  as  cashier  for  one  year.  Since  the  time  of  his 
retirement  Mr.  Langstaff  has  lived  in  his  beautiful  home  at  Lexington. 
He  has  been  among  the  successful  business  men  of  the  county  and  is  a 
pioneer  banker. 

On  Jan.  28,  1864,  Mr.  Langstaff  was  married  to  Miss  Isabella  J.  Pow- 
ell, a  native  of  Ohio,  and  the  daughter  of  Harper  and  Margaret  (Jones) 
Powell,  natives  of  Ohio,  and  early  settlers  of  McLean  County.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Langstaff  had  four  children,  as  follows:  Louie,  Irene  and  Asa,  de- 
ceased ;  and  Margaret,  married  B.  C.  VanLeer,  lives  at  Bloomington.  Mrs. 
Langstaff  died  in  1919  at  the  age  of  70  years. 

Mr.  Langstaff  is  a  Republican,  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Church, 
and  belongs  to  the  Masonic  Lodge.  He  is  one  of  the  interesting  men  of 
his  community,  and  a  highly  respected  citizen  of  McLean  County. 


Louis  C.  Hay,  attorney  of  Bloomington,  is  recognized  as  one  of  the 
representative  members  of  the  bar  of  McLean  County.  He  was  born  in 
Montezuma,  Pike  County,  111.,  Feb.  10,  1866,  and  is  the  son  of  John  L. 
and  Maria   (Kinman)   Hay. 

John  L.  Hay  was  a  native  of  Winfield,  N.  Y.,  born  in  1836,  the  son 
of  John  and  Hannah  (Ferguson)  Hay,  the  former  a  native  of  Winfield, 
N.  Y.,  and  the  latter  of  Montpelier,  Vt.  John  Hay,  great-great-grandfa- 
ther of  Louis  C.  Hay,  was  born  in  Cassel  Hessen,  Germany,  and  came 
to  the  United  States  the  first  year  of  the  Revolutionary  War.  He  joined 
the  Continental  army  and  after  the  close  of  the  war  settled  in  Win- 
field, N.  Y.,  where  the  Hay  family  lived  for  four  generations.  John  Hay, 
grandfather  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  a  blacksmith  and  wagon 
maker  at  Winfield,  N.  Y.,  and  was  killed  in  his  power  mill  when  his  son, 
John  L.,  was  but  four  months  old.  His  wife  was  later  married  to  Abner 
Waters. 

John  L.  Hay  was  a  school  teacher  for  several  years  and  later  en- 
gaged in  farming  in  Green  County,  111.  He  died  in  1867.  There  were 
two  children  in  the  Hay  family:  Nellie,  who  died  at  the  age  of  three 
years;  and  Louis  C,  the  subject  of  this  sketch. 

Louis  C.  Hay  was  reared  by  his  father's  oldest  brother,  Albert  R. 
Hay,  a  farmer  of  Champaign  County,  111.     Mr.  Hay  received  his  educa- 


LOUIS    C.    HAY, 


History  of  McLean  County  633 

tion  in  the  district  schools  and  at  the  age  of  16  years  came  to  Bloom- 
ington.  He  attended  Illinois  Wesleyan  University  and  was  graduated 
from  the  law  department  in  1888.  Since  that  time  he  has  been  actively 
engaged  in  the  practice  of  his  profession  there.  Mr.  Hay  was  located 
in  the  Peoples  Bank  Building  until  1909  when  he  moved  to  the  Panta- 
graph  Building. 

Mr.  Hay  is  a  Republican,  a  member  of  the  Second  Presbyterian 
Church,  is  a  32nd  degree  Mason,  and  a  member  of  the  Shrine  of  Peoria. 
He  also  belongs  to  the  Knights  of  Pythias  and  the  Elks  lodge  of  Bloom- 
ington.     He  is  unmarried. 


George  E.  Brown,  popular  garage  owner  of  Lexington  and  authorized 
Ford  dealer,  is  a  native  of  McLean  County  and  one  of  its  prominent  and 
successful  business  men.  He  was  born  on  a  farm  in  Money  Creek  Town- 
ship, Aug.  30,  1868,  the  son  of  Asa  and  Elizabeth  (Swoortwood)  Brown. 

Asa  Brown  was  born  in  Muskingum  County,  Ohio,  in  1840  and  died 
in  1919.  He  was  among  the  earliest  settlers  of  Ilinois  and  settled  on  a 
farm  in  McLean  County  in  1854.  His  wife,  a  native  of  Monroe  County, 
Ohio,  died  in  1919  at  the  age  of  74  years.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Brown  had  eight 
children,  one  of  whom  is  deceased.  George  E.,  the  subject  of  this  sketch, 
is  the  second  in  order  of  birth. 

George  E.  Brown  grew  up  on  his  father's  farm  and  received  his  edu- 
cation in  the  district  schools.  He  worked  as  a  farm  hand  for  five  years 
and  then  rented  land  in  McLean  County  for  18  years.  In  1903  he  pur- 
chased 160  acres  of  land  in  Money  Creek  Township,  which  he  still  owns. 
He  was  widely  known  as  a  breeder  of  pure-bred  cattle  for  20  years  and 
brought  his  stock  to  Lexington,  from  where  he  shipped  to  Chicago  twice 
each  week  for  15  years.  In  1908  Mr.  Brown  moved  to  Lexington  and 
engaged  in  the  meat  business  with  L.  C.  Wheaton  for  three  years,  at 
which  time  Mr.  Brown  sold  his  interest  in  the  business  to  Mr.  Wheaton. 
He  has  had  the  agency  for  Ford  automobiles  and  tractors  since  1913  and 
has  been  in  his  present  location  since  1917.  Mr.  Brown  has  been  very 
successful  with  his  business  and  is  well  known  throughout  the  county. 

Mr.  Brown  was  married  on  March  12,  1890,  to  Miss  Margaret  Ran- 
kin, a  native  of  Money  Creek  Township,  McLean  County,  and  the  daugh- 
ter of  John  and  Mary  Jane  (Moats)  Rankin,  the  former  a  native  of  Ohio 


634  History  of  McLean  County 

and  the  latter  of  McLean  County.  To  George  E.  and  Margaret  (Rankin) 
Brown  two  children  have  been  born,  as  follows:  Bernard,  engaged  in 
business  with  his  father;  and  Zelda,  married  Lloyd  Worth,  lives  in  Chi- 
cago, and  they  have  two  children,  George  William  and  Junior  Worth. 

Mr.  Brown  is  identified  with  the  Democratic  party  in  politics  and  for 
the  past  nine  years  has  served  as  township  assessor  of  Lexington  Town- 
ship. In  1915  he  was  elected  mayor  of  Lexington,  held  the  office  for  two 
years,  and  in  1919  was  again  elected  for  a  term  of  four  years,  having 
completed  his  term  of  office  in  1923.  Mr.  Brown  was  supervisor  of  Money 
Creek  Township  from  1905  until  1907,  and  was  also  for  nine  years  assessor 
of  the  same  township.  He  has  served  as  school  director  and  was  instru- 
mental in  having  the  new  school  in  district  No.  211  built.  He  is  a  director 
of  the  Peoples  Bank  of  Lexington  and  belongs  to  the  Knights  of  Pythias 
and  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows.  Mr.  Brown  is  a  member  of 
the  Christian  Church  and  a  substantial  citizen. 


Dr.  L.  W.  Moore  is  a  prominent  veterinary  surgeon  of  Lexington  and 
a  member  of  one  of  Bloomington's  oldest  and  most  prominent  families. 
He  was  born  at  Bloomington,  June  11,  1876,  the  son  of  Dr.  D.  0.  and  Eliza- 
beth (Wakefield)  Moore. 

Dr.  D.  0.  Moore,  a  leading  physician  and  surgeon  of  Bloomington  for 
many  years,  was  born  on  a  farm  in  Harrison  County,  Ohio,  and  studied 
medicine  at  Cincinnati,  Ohio.  In  1858  he  came  to  Bloomington  and  took 
up  the  practice  of  medicine  and  he  became  one  of  the  most  successful 
physicians  of  his  time.  Dr.  Moore  did  much  to  help  in  the  development 
of  the  water  works  at  Bloomington  and  during  his  life  was  a  prominent 
citizen.  He  served  as  alderman  of  Bloomington  during  the  early  days 
and  died  in  1901  when  he  was  62  years  of  age.  Beside  his  practice  of 
medicine  Dr.  Moore  conducted  a  drug  store  at  Bloomington.  He  was  a 
Republican  and  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church.  Mrs.  Moore  now 
lives  at  401  East  Grove  Street,  Bloomington.  They  were  the  parents  of 
four  children,  as  follows:  William,  deceased;  D.  D.,  a  druggist  at  Bloom- 
ington, 111. ;  Dr.  L.  W.,  the  subject  of  this  sketch ;  and  Edna  May,  lives  at 
Bloomington. 

Dr.  L.  W.  Moore  grew  up  in  Bloomington  and  attended  the  public 
schools  there.     After  finishing  high  school  he  was  employed  in  his  fa- 


History  of  McLean  County  635 

ther's  drug  store  and  later  in  the  Palmer-Darnell  Carriage  Factory.  In 
1906  he  entered  the  Chicago  Veterinary  College  at  Chicago,  from  which 
he  was  graduated  in  1909.  Dr.  Moore  then  took  up  the  practice  of  his 
profession  at  Lexington,  where  he  has  since  been  located.  He  has  been 
efficient  and  successful  in  his  work  and  is  widely  known. 

Dr.  Moore  is  a  member  of  the  American  Veterinary  Association  and 
the  Illinois  State  Veterinary  Association.  He  is  a  Republican  and  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Knights  of  Pythias  and  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows. 


D.  F.  Trimmer,  retired,  is  a  highly  esteemed  and  prominent  citizen 
of  McLean  County.  He  was  born  on  a  farm  in  Money  Creek  Township, 
McLean  County,  July  27,  1851,  the'  son  of  Jesse  and  Amanda  (Gilmore) 
Trimmer. 

Jesse  Trimmer  was  a  native  of  Huntington  County,  N.  J.,  born  in 
1817,  and  the  son  of  John  Trimmer,  one  of  the  earliest  settlers  of  McLean 
County.  John  Trimmer  had  a  claim  in  Money  Creek  Township  and  brought 
his  wife  and  eight  children  here  from  New  Jersey.  They  made  the  trip 
in  wagons  and  traveled  by  foot  a  great  deal.  After  looking  the  land  over, 
John  Trimmer  walked  to  Wisconsin,  and  his  purchases  of  land  ranged 
from  $1.25  per  acre  to  $50.00.  He  owned  2,200  acres  of  land  in  Money 
Creek  Township  and  donated  land  for  the  Trimmer  District  School,  which 
is  still  in  existence.  Mr.  Trimmer's  picture  hangs  in  the  school  building 
and  he  is  regarded  as  one  of  the  leading  pioneers  of  McLean  County. 

Jesse  Trimmer  followed  farming  like  his  father,  and  met  with  marked 
success.  He  owned  large  tracts  of  land,  which  he  had  inherited  from  his 
father.  In  1839  Mr.  Trimmer  was  married  to  Miss  Amanda  Gilmore,  a 
native  of  Fayette  County,  Ohio,  and  to  this  union  eight  children  were  born, 
three  of  whom  are  now  living,  as  follows :  John,  lives  at  Rockf ord,  Colo. ; 
Sarah,  married  Joseph  Scott,  lives  at  Pasadena,  Calif. ;  and  D.  F.,  the  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch.  Mr.  Trimmer  died  in  1873  and  his  wife  died  several 
years  later. 

D.  F.  Trimmer  spent  his  boyhood  on  the  farm  and  received  his  edu- 
cation in  the  district  schools,  and  also  attended  Normal  University  and 
Eureka  College.  After  finishing  his  schooling,  Mr.  Trimmer  taught  school 
for  one  term  in  Money  Creek  Township  and  after  becoming  heir  to  240 
acres  of  land  he  engaged  in  general  farming  and  stock  raising.    Mr.  Trim- 


636  History  of  McLean  County 

mer  now  owns  700  acres  of  well-improved  land  and  for  many  years  was  a 
progressive  and  enterprising  farmer.  He  has  lived  at  Lexington  since 
1870,  where  he  owns  a  fine  home. 

Mr.  Trimmer  was  married  on  Sept.  9,  1874,  to  Miss  Josephine  McAf- 
erty,  a  native  of  Money  Creek  Township,  born  Nov.  20,  1851,  and  the 
daughter  of  William  and  Amanda  (Richardson)  McAferty,  the  former  a 
native  of  Ohio  and  the  latter  of  Illinois.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Trimmer  have  had 
four  children,  as  follows:  Theron  F.,  lives  in  Lexington  Township;  Myrtle, 
deceased ;  Ivy  J.,  teaches  music  at  Lexington ;  and  Mortimer,  deceased. 

In  politics  Mr.  Trimmer  is  a  Republican  and  he  has  served  as  school 
director  for  a  number  of  years.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Christian  Church, 
having  joined  at  the  age  of  15  years,  and  he  also  belongs  to  the  state  and 
county  historical  societies.  Mr.  Trimmer  has  written  many  interesting 
articles  for  The  Pantagraph  of  Bloomington  and  he  is  an  ardent  student 
of  history.  When  he  was  a  boy  of  13  years  he  attended  the  funeral  of 
President  Lincoln  at  Springfield,  111.,  and  he  was  the  youngest  boy  to 
attend  the  services.  Mr.  Trimmer  stands  high  in  the  community  and  has 
many  friends  and  acquaintances. 


Frank  C.  Wise,  one  of  the  capable  and  excellent  citizens  of  Lexing- 
ton, now  living  retired,  is  a  member  of  one  of  the  early  pioneer  families 
of  Illinois.  He  was  born  in  Yates  Township,  McLean  County,  May  19, 
1870,  the  son  of  Charles  and  Pauline  (Barnek)  Wise. 

Charles  Wise  was  born  at  Baden,  Germany,  Dec.  25,  1838,  and  came 
to  the  United  States  with  his  parents  when  he  was  14  years  of  age.  They 
settled  on  a  farm  near  Pekin,  111.,  and  in  1854  came  to  Lexington,  where 
Mr.  Wise  became  a  prosperous  farmer  and  stockman.  He  owned  300  acres 
of  land  and  was  widely  known  as  a  breeder  of  pure-bred  stock.  Mr.  Wise 
served  with  Company  C,  94th  Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry,  throughout 
the  Civil  War.  He  died  Jan.  1,  1888.  Pauline  (Barnek)  Wise  was  born 
in  Austria,  Feb.  26,  1850,  and  was  two  years  old  when  her  parents  came 
to  this  country.  She  now  lives  with  her  son,  Frank  C,  the  subject  of  this 
sketch.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Charles  Wise  had  three  children,  of  whom  Frank  C. 
is  the  only  one  now  living. 

Frank  C.  Wise  was  reared  on  his  father's  farm  and  received  his  edu- 
cation in  the  district  schools  and  also  attended  Chenoa  High  School  and 


History  of  McLean  County  637 

the  Evergreen  Business  College  of  Bloomington.  After  finishing  his 
schooling,  Mr.  Wise  engaged  in  general  farming  in  Chenoa  Township  and 
became  one  of  the  prosperous  and  widely  known  stockmen  of  the  county. 
He  retired  in  1904  after  suffering  from  paralysis,  and  now  lives  at  Lex- 
ington. Mr.  Wise  with  his  mother  owns  800  acres  of  good  farm  land  in 
McLean  County. 

Mr.  Wise  was  married  on  October  27,  1897,  to  Miss  Eleanor  Lawrence, 
a  native  of  Lexington  Township,  and  the  daughter  of  Captain  Harrison 
and  Cynthia  (Smalley)  Lawrence.  Captain  Lawrence  served  throughout 
the  Civil  War  and  settled  in  McLean  County  after  the  Civil  War.  To 
Frank  C.  and  Eleanor  (Lawrence)  Wise  one  child  was  born,  Pauline  Ger- 
trude, the  wife  of  Dr.  John  L.  Dies,  and  they  live  at  Memphis,  Tenn., 
where  he  practices  medicine  and  surgery.  Mrs.  Dies  is  a  graduate  of 
Lexington  High  School,  National  Park  Seminary  at  Washington,  D.  C, 
and  also  attended  the  University  of  Illinois  for  one  year. 

Mr.  Wise  is  a  director  and  stockholder  of  The  Peoples  Bank  of  Lex- 
ington. He  is  a  Republican,  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Church,  and  be- 
longs to  the  Masonic  Lodge  and  the  Knights  of  Pythias. 


John  Shaver,  a  well-known  retired  farmer  of  Lexington,  was  born  in 
Fulton  County,  111.,  Aug.  12,  1850,  the  son  of  George  and  Margaret  (Mc- 
Elhaney)  Shaver. 

The  Shaver  family  came  to  Illinois  from  Huntington  County,  Pa., 
and  settled  on  a  farm  in  Fulton  County.  They  made  the  trip  in  covered 
wagons  and  were  among  the  first  settlers  of  Illinois.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  George 
Shaver  had  eight  children,  three  of  whom  are  now  living,  as  follows: 
Mary  Katherine,  the  widow  of  Lewis  Zoll,  lives  in  Oklahoma;  John,  the 
subject  of  this  sketch;  and  Samuel,  lives  in  Fulton  County,  111. 

John  Shaver  grew  to  manhood  on  his  father's  farm  in  Fulton  County 
and  received  his  education  in  the  district  schools.  When  he  was  23  years 
of  age  Mr.  Shaver  came  to  McLean  County  and  purchased  land  in  Blue 
Mound  and  Lexington  townships.  He  followed  general  farming  until 
1896  when  he  moved  to  Cooksville,  111.,  where  he  remained  until  1909.  Mr. 
Shaver  then  moved  to  Lexington  and  built  a  fine  home  in  the  east  end  of 
town,  which  he  later  sold.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Shaver  reside  at  the  corner  of 
Vine  and  Chestnut  Streets,  in  Lexington.  They  own  520  acres  of  well- 
improved  land. 


638  History  of  McLean  County 

On  Nov.  28,  1878,  Mr.  Shaver  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Sarah 
Woodard,  a  native  of  Morgan  County,  Ind.,  and  the  daughter  of  James 
and  Luany  (Evans)  Woodard.  The  Woodards  came  to  McLean  County 
from  Indiana  in  1860  and  at  the  time  of  his  death  Mr.  Woodard  owned 
over  1,800  acres  of  land.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Woodard  had  five  children,  of 
whom  Mrs.  Shaver  was  the  second  in  order  of  birth.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Shaver 
have  no  children. 

Mr.  Shaver  is  a  Republican  and  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Church. 


Wesley  P.  Franklin,  deceased,  was  a  native  of  Illinois  and  a  promi- 
nent citizen  of  McLean  County  for  many  years.  He  was  born  on  a  farm 
in  Owen  County,  Ind.,  March  15,  1837,  and  died  April  4,  1920.  Mr.  Frank- 
lin was  the  son  of  John  and  Mary  (Puett)  Franklin. 

John  Franklin  was  a  native  of  North  Carolina  and  in  1818  moved 
his  family  to  Indiana,  where  they  remained  until  the  late  forties,  when 
they  came  to  McLean  County,  and  settled  on  land  in  Money  Creek  Town- 
ship. Mr.  Franklin  was  a  colonel  in  the  state  militia  of  Indiana  and  died 
in  1860.  He  and  his  wife  had  13  children,  of  whom  Wesley  P.,  the  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch,  was  the  12th  in  order  of  birth. 

Wesley  P.  Franklin  spent  his  entire  life  on  the  farm  and  was  success- 
ful as  a  breeder  of  black  Poland  Angus  cattle  and  trotting  horses.  After 
farming  in  Lexington  Township  for  many  years,  Mr.  Franklin  went  to 
Montana  and  engaged  in  stock  raising  with  his  son,  H.  P.  Franklin,  and 
they  remained  at  Big  Timber,  Mont.,  for  15  years.  While  there  Mr.  Frank- 
lin organized  the  Scandinavian  American  Bank,  of  which  he  was  presi- 
dent for  15  years.  He  also  served  as  a  member  of  the  Legislature  from 
Montana  and  died  in  Montana.  There  is  a  memorial  window  in  the  Chris- 
tian Church  at  Lexington  in  memory  of  Mr.  Franklin. 

On  March  23,  1858,  Mr.  Franklin  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Hannah  Puett,  a  native  of  Indiana,  born  Feb.  14,  1835.  She  died  July  22, 
1915,  at  Lexington.  To  Wesley  P.  and  Hannah  (Puett)  Franklin  four 
children  were  born,  as  follows:  Estelle  F.  Mowdy,  further  mention  of 
whom  is  made  below ;  Herschel  Puett,  lives  at  Big  Timber,  Mont. ;  Lillian, 
married  Henry  North,  lives  at  Minneapolis,  Minn. ;  and  Daisy  F.  Hamilton, 
lives  at  Cedar  Rapids,  Iowa. 

Estelle  F.  Franklin  was  educated  in  the  public  and  high  schools  of 


History  of  McLean  County  639 

Lexington  and  was  graduated  from  Eureka  College,  where  she  studied 
music.  After  completing  her  course  in  1887  she  studied  in  New  York 
City  and  on  Aug.  18,  1892,  Miss  Franklin  was  married  to  John  L.  Mowdy. 
Mrs.  Mowdy  has  taught  music  successfully  for  40  years  and  is  widely 
known  as  an  accomplished  musician.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Mowdy  have  one 
daughter,  Edith,  who  married  Allan  Ream  and  they  have  one  daughter, 
Louise  Ream.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ream  live  at  Oakville,  Iowa.  Mrs.  Mowdy 
lives  at  Lexington  and  she  is  a  member  of  the  Baptist  Church.  She  was 
the  organizer  of  the  Lexington  Music  Club  and  is  a  member  of  the  Lex- 
ington Womens  Club. 

In  politics  Mr.  Franklin  was  a  Democrat  and  he  was  a  member  of  the 
Christian  Church.  He  was  an  energetic  man  who  stood  well  in  the  es- 
teem of  his  neighbors  and  fellow  citizens. 


William  A.  Smith,  a  well  known  retired  farmer  of  Lexington,  is  a 
member  of  one  of  McLean  County's  prominent  pioneer  families.  He  was 
born  on  a  farm  in  Lexington  Township,  Sept.  27,  1846,  the  son  of  Milton 
and  Lydia  Ann  (Goddard)  Smith. 

Milton  Smith  was  a  native  of  Kentucky  and  came  to  Illinois  in  1835, 
making  the  trip  on  horseback.  He  was  born  Feb.  19,  1808,  and  died  in 
1887.  Mr.  Smith  was  among  the  leading  pioneers  of  Lexington,  and 
helped  build  the  first  house  there.  He  was  the  son  of  William  and  Obedi- 
ence Smith.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Milton  Smith  were  the  parents  of  the  follow- 
ing children:  Sarah,  the  widow  of  Willis  Strayer,  lives  at  Lexington; 
W.  A.,  the  subject  of  this  sketch;  Fletcher  M.,  lives  at  Everett,  Wash.; 
Carrie,  the  widow  of  A.  D.  Pierson,  lives  at  Lexington;  Kate,  the  widow 
of  L.  D.  Poole,  a  sketch  of  whom  appears  in  this  volume;  L.  H.,  a  retired 
farmer,  lives  at  Lexington;  George  J.,  a  merchant  at  Lexington;  Estelle, 
married  Harry  S.  Shade,  lives  at  Normal ;  and  Anna  Mary,  deceased,  was 
the  wife  of  George  B.  Okeson. 

Milton  Smith  became  a  prosperous  farmer  of  McLean  County  and  at 
one  time  owned  1,800  acres  of  land,  which  was  later  divided  among  his 
children. 

William  A.  Smith  has  always  followed  farming  and  stock  raising  and 
has  been  successful.  He  received  his  education  in  the  public  and  high 
schools  at  Bloomington  and  attended  Illinois  Wesleyan  University.     Mr. 


640  History  of  McLean  County 

Smith  remained  on  the  home  place  until  1870  and  in  1871  became  heir 
to  his  present  farm  of  287  acres  in  Lexington  Township,  which  he  farmed 
until  1890  when  he  moved  to  Lexington. 

On  Sept.  8,  1870,  Mr.  Smith  was  married  to  Miss  Tinnie  Day,  a  na- 
tive of  Lake  County,  111.,  born  Aug.  16,  1852,  and  the  daughter  of  Rev. 
Allen  and  Emma  (Townsend)  Day,  natives  of  New  York.  To  William  A. 
and  Tinnie  (Day)  Smith  three  children  have  been  born,  as  follows:  Al- 
bert, at  home;  Vivian,  the  widow  of  William  Perrill,  and  she  has  one  son 
by  a  former  marriage,  Kenneth  Stone;  and  Josephine,  the  wife  of  G.  C. 
Mericle,  lives  at  Monta  Vesta,  Colo. 

Mr.  Smith  is  a  Republican  and  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church. 
He  is  public  spirited  and  progressive  and  the  Smith  family  has  always 
stood  high  in  the  community. 


Arthur  Van  Dyke  Pierson,  deceased,  was  a  prominent  citizen  of 
McLean  County  for  many  years.  He  was  born  at  Mt.  Gilead,  Morrow 
County,  Ohio,  May  19,  1847,  the  son  of  James  S.  and  Mary  J.  (Morri- 
son)  Pierson. 

James  S.  Pierson  was  a  native  of  Knox  County,  Ohio,  and  was  born 
Aug.  7,  1821.  In  1853  he  brought  his  family  to  McLean  County  and 
after  a  short  time  moved  to  Menard  County,  111.  However,  in  1855  he 
returned  to  McLean  County,  where  he  purchased  230  acres  of  land  in 
Lexington  Township.  Mr.  Pierson  was  an  extensive  sheep  raiser  and 
was  appointed  judge  of  sheep  at  many  state  fairs.  He  died  May  19, 
1900,  and  his  wife,  a  native  of  Jefferson  County,  Ohio,  died  March  24, 
1915.  She  was  born  Sept.  12,  1826,  and  they  were  married  on  July  30, 
1846.  To  James  S.  and  Mary  J.  (Morrison)  Pierson  six  children  were 
born,  as  follows:  Arthur  Van  Dyke,  the  subject  of  this  sketch;  Louisa, 
the  widow  of  D.  T.  Douglas,  lives  in  Martin  Township,  McLean  County; 
Emily  A.,  the  wife  of  J.  A.  Bailey,  lives  at  Los  Angeles,  Calif.;  Eleanor, 
lives  with  her  sister,  Mrs.  Douglas;  Elmer,  deceased;  and  Grace,  de- 
ceased, was  the  wife  of  Howard  McFarland. 

Arthur  Van  Dyke  Pierson  received  his  education  in  the  district 
schools  and  lived  on  the  home  place  until  the  time  of  his  marriage,  when 
he  purchased  land  for  himself.  He  followed  farming  until  1901,  at  which 
time  he  retired  and  moved  to  Lexington,  where  he  died  Jan.  16,  1916. 


ARTHUR  VAN  DYKE   PIERSON. 


History  of  McLean  County  641 

Mr.  Pierson  was  a  successful  farmer  and  an  excellent  citizen.  During 
his  life  he  wrote  many  articles  for  The  Pantagraph  of  Bloomington  and 
also  for  the  Lexington  papers.  One  of  his  best  known  writings  is  con- 
cerning the  lives  of  Presidents  Lincoln  and  Grant. 

On  March  30,  1876,  Mr.  Pierson  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Carrie  Smith,  a  native  of  Lexington  Township,  born  June  13,  1853,  and 
the  daughter  of  Milton  and  Lydia  Ann  (Goddard)  Smith.  Mr.  Smith 
was  born  in  Franklin,  Ky.,  Feb.  19,  1808,  and  died  Feb.  12,  1888.  His 
wife  was  born  at  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  Sept.  23,  1820,  and  died  May  20,  1890. 
To  Arthur  Van  Dyke  and  Carrie  (Smith)  Pierson  three  children  were 
born,  as  follows:  Lawrence  Milton,  born  Oct.  6,  1878,  and  killed  during 
a  football  game  at  Lake  Forest  College  in  Chicago,  where  he  was  at- 
tending school,  on  Sept.  28,  1900;  Anna  N.,  born  May  19,  1882,  married 
Harry  Blue,  lives  on  the  home  place;  and  Madge,  born  Oct.  2,  1888,  is 
an  invalid  and  lives  with  her  mother. 

Mrs.  Carrie  Pierson  was  educated  in  the  public  and  high  schools  of 
Lexington.  She  is  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  and  the  Mis- 
sionary Society.  Mrs.  Pierson  is  one  of  the  hospitable  and  highly  es- 
teemed women  of  McLean  County  and  she  has  many  friends. 

Arthur  Van  Dyke  Pierson  was  a  Republican  and  a  member  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church.  When  the  Smith  Library  was  organized  he  was 
elected  president  of  the  board.  He  was  one  of  McLean  County's  rep- 
resentative and  well  known  citizens. 


Alexander  Hensley,  a  well  known  citizen  of  McLean  County,  now  liv- 
ing retired  at  Lexington,  is  a  native  of  Kentucky.  He  was  born  on  a 
farm  in  Oldham  County,  Ky.,  Aug.  10,  1848,  the  son  of  Thomas  and  Nancy 
(Davis)  Hensley. 

Thomas  Hensley  was  a  tobacco  grower  in  Kentucky,  where  he  was 
born.  He  moved  his  family  to  Illinois  in  1856  and  settled  on  a  farm  of 
80  acres  in  Blue  Mound  Township.  Mr.  Hensley  served  as  a  member  of 
the  school  board  for  many  years  and  was  a  deacon  of  the  Christian  Church. 
He  died  in  1909  at  the  age  of  82  years.  His  wife  died  1898,  she  being  66 
years  of  age.  To  Thomas  and  Nancy  (Davis)  Hensley  six  children  were 
born,  two  of  whom  are  now  living:  Alexander,  the  subject  of  this  sketch; 
and  Frank,  lives  in  California.  After  the  death  of  his  first  wife  Mr.  Hens- 
ley was  later  married  to  Mrs.  McCollough,  also  deceased. 
(39) 


642  History  of  McLean  County 

Alexander  Hensley  was  reared  on  his  father's  farm  and  received 
his  education  in  the  district  schools.  After  working  as  a  farm  hand  for 
two  years  he  purchased  land  in  Lawndale  Township,  McLean  County, 
which  he  farmed  until  about  10  years  ago.  Mr.  Hensley  was  a  successful 
farmer  and  breeder  of  pure-bred  stock.  He  owns  223  acres  of  well  im- 
proved land,  which  is  located  in  Lawndale,  Blue  Mound,  and  in  Lexington 
townships. 

Mr.  Hensley  was  married  in  1872  to  Miss  Steary  Miles,  a  native  of  Ohio 
and  the  daughter  of  E.  A.  Miles.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hensley  the  following 
children  were  born:  Lee,  deceased;  Joseph  Albert,  lives  in  Washington; 
Jay  Alexander,  lives  in  Michigan ;  Ed,  lives  at  Saxton,  Mo. ;  Pearl,  married 
Claude  Albertson,  lives  at  Indianapolis,  Ind. ;  Guy,  lives  in  Lawndale 
Township,  McLean  County;  Thomas  Wesley,  lives  in  Blue  Mound  Town- 
ship; Edna,  married  Henry  Lindenbaum,  lives  in  Lexington  Township; 
and  one  child  died  in  infancy. 

Mr.  Hensley  is  a  Democrat  and  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Church. 
He  is  a  substantial  citizen  of  McLean  County  and  is  well  known. 


Thomas  A.  Dawson,  widely  known  as  a  breeder  of  pure  bred  Short- 
horn cattle  and  Durock  Jersey  hogs,  is  the  owner  of  200  acres  of  well- 
improved  land,  and  a  member  of  one  of  McLean  County's  oldest  and  most 
prominent  families. 

The  Dawson  family  is  of  Welsh  extraction  and  came  to  America  dur- 
ing the  first  settlement  of  Virginia.  James  R.  Dawson,  grandfather  of 
the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  born  in  Bourbon  County,  Ky.,  in  1794  and 
went  to  Madison  County,  Ohio,  in  1817,  where  he  and  his  family  remained 
until  1832,  when  they  moved  to  McLean  County.  They  settled  on  a  farm 
one  and  one-half  miles  southwest  of  Lexington  and  were  among  the  earli- 
est settlers  of  the  county.  James  R.  Dawson  was  a  successful  farmer  and 
owned  240  acres  of  land.  His  wife  died  three  years  after  coming  to 
Illinois  . 

John  Dawson,  father  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch  and  son  of  James 
R.  Dawson,  was  born  in  Madison  County,  Ohio,  Dec.  4,  1820,  and  died 
in  1900.  He  followed  farming  during  his  life  and  became  the  owner  of 
700  acres  of  land  in  McLean  County.  Mr.  Dawson  went  to  California  in 
1875  and  remained  there  four  years.     He  then  lived  retired  at  Lexington 


History  of  McLean  County  643 

until  the  time  of  his  death.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Christian  Church 
and  a  Democrat.  Mr.  Dawson  was  married  to  Miss  Arminta  Adams,  a  na- 
tive of  Bourbon  County,  Ky.,  born  in  1862.  They  were  the  parents  of 
eight  children,  two  of  whom  are  now  living,  as  follows:  Thomas  A.,  the 
subject  of  this  sketch;  and  Orlando,  lives  retired  at  Lexington. 

Thomas  A.  Dawson  was  born  in  Lexington  Township,  Oct.  13,  1854, 
and  has  always  been  a  farmer.  He  received  his  education  in  the  public 
and  high  schools  of  Lexington  and  attended  the  university  at  Normal  for 
five  months.  Mr.  Dawson  has  owned  his  own  farm  since  he  was  18  years 
of  age,  200  acres  which  his  father  gave  him.  For  many  years  he  has 
specialized  in  the  breeding  of  pure-bred  stock  and  his  farm  is  among  the 
well  improved  stock  farms  of  McLean  County.  His  son,  Harvey  E.,  now 
farms  with  him.  In  1890  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dawson  moved  to  Lexington 
where  they  now  reside. 

Mr.  Dawson  was  married  on  Jan.  1,  1873,  to  Miss  Arabelle  Campbell, 
a  native  of  Lexington,  and  the  daughter  of  John  and  Adeline  (Hefner) 
Campbell,  both  deceased.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dawson  seven  children  have 
been  born,  as  follows:  Oscar  A.,  lives  in  Chicago;  Bernard  0.,  deceased; 
Austin,  lives  at  Olathe,  Kan. ;  Arminta,  deceased ;  Nettie,  married  B.  E. 
Grimsley,  lives  in  Lexington  Township;  Alta,  married  Ralph  Payne,  lives 
in  Chenoa  Township ;  and  Harvey  E.,  who  farms  the  home  place  in  Chenoa 
Township.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dawson  have  nine  grandchildren  and  one  great- 
grandchild. 

Mr.  Dawson  is  identified  with  the  Democratic  party  in  politics  and  is 
a  member  of  the  Christian  Church.  He  is  well  known  throughout  the 
county,  where  he  is  highly  esteemed  as  a  man  of  progress,  industry,  and 
initiative. 


L.  H.  Smith,  who  now  lives  retired  on  his  farm  near  Lexington,  is  a 
substantial  citizen  of  McLean  County.  He  was  born  on  a  farm  in  Lex- 
ington Township,  Aug.  13,  1858,  the  son  of  Milton  and  Lydia  Ann  (God- 
dard)  Smith. 

Milton  Smith  came  to  Illinois  from  Kentucky  in  1835,  making  the 
trip  on  horseback.  He  was  born  in  Franklin  County,  Ky.,  Feb.  19,  1808, 
and  died  in  1887.  Mr.  Smith  was  among  the  leading  pioneers  of  Lex- 
ington, and  helped  build  the  first  house  there.     He  was  the  son  of  William 


644  History  of  McLean  County 

and  Obedience  Smith.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Milton  Smith  were  the  parents  of 
the  following  children:  Sarah,  the  widow  of  Willis  Strayer,  lives  at  Lex- 
ington; W.  A.,  a  retired  farmer,  lives  at  Lexington;  Fletcher  M.,  lives  at 
Everett,  Wash. ;  Carrie,  the  widow  of  A.  D.  Pierson,  lives  at  Lexington ; 
Kate,  the  widow  of  L.  D.  Poole,  lives  at  Lexington;  L.  H.,  the  subject  of 
this  sketch ;  George  J.,  merchant  of  Lexington,  a  sketch  of  whom  appears 
in  this  volume;  Estelle,  married  Harry  S.  Shade,  lives  at  Normal;  and 
Anna  Mary,  deceased,  was  the  wife  of  George  B.  Okeson. 

L.  H.  Smith  was  reared  on  his  father's  farm  and  attended  the  district 
schools.  He  farmed  the  home  place  until  1888,  when  he  purchased  his 
present  farm  of  30  acres  near  the  city  limits  of  Lexington.  Mr.  Smith 
conducts  a  dairy  and  has  pure-bred  Jersey  cows. 

On  Sept.  30,  1879,  Mr.  Smith  was  married  to  Miss  Rozilla  Ralston,  a 
native  of  Lexington,  and  the  daughter  of  Jonathan  and  Elizabeth  (Mc- 
Nery)  Ralston,  natives  of  Pennsylvania  and  early  settlers  of  McLean 
County.  To  L.  H.  and  Rozilla  (Ralston)  Smith  two  children  have  been 
born,  Harold,  deceased,  and  Bessie,  at  home. 

Mr.  Smith  is  a  Republican  and  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church. 
He  is  a  man  of  integrity  and  ability,  a  good  farmer  and  an  excellent  citi- 
zen. Mr.  Smith  has  had  a  hobby  for  the  past  30  years  of  taking  pictures, 
and  he  has  in  his  possession  a  fine  collection  of  photographs  taken  through- 
out the  state  of  Illinois. 


Robert  E.  Jones,  deceased,  was  one  of  McLean  County's  most  promi- 
nent and  highly  respected  citizens.  He  was  born  at  Montgomershire, 
Wales,  Oct.  30,  1843,  and  died  at  Lexington,  June  12,  1902.  Mr.  Jones 
was  the  son  of  Richard  and  Anna  (Evans)  Jones,  natives  of  Wales,  where 
they  spent  their  entire  lives. 

Robert  E.  Jones  was  reared  on  his  father's  farm  in  Wales  and  re- 
ceived his  education  in  the  schools  there.  In  1865  he  came  to  the  United 
States  and  went  as  far  west  as  Emporia,  Kan.  After  several  years  Mr. 
Jones  returned  to  Wales,  was  married,  and  returned  to  this  country  with 
his  family  in  1877.  They  settled  on  land  near  Lexington  and  Mr.  Jones 
became  a  prosperous  farmer.  His  first  farm  consisted  of  80  acres,  but  at 
the  time  of  his  death  he  owned  160  acres.  He  was  an  extensive  cattle 
feeder  and  also  shipped  stock. 


History  of  McLean  County  645 

On  June  2,  1869,  Mr.  Jones  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Re- 
becca Hughes,  a  native  of  Wales,  born  July  30,  1843,  and  the  daughter 
of  Morris  and  Elizabeth  (Evans)  Hughes.  To  Robert  E.  and  Rebecca 
(Hughes)  Jones  eight  children  were  born,  as  follows:  Morris  T.,  grocer 
at  Lexington ;  Elizabeth  Ann,  the  widow  of  William  Cochran,  lives  in  Chi- 
cago; Nellie  Jane,  the  widow  of  L.  0.  Carnahan,  and  she  conducts  the 
N.  J.  Carnahan  Dry  Goods  Company  at  Lexington;  Richard  G.,  state 
inspector  of  highway  equipment,  lives  at  Lexington;  Emlyn  Ivor,  an  at- 
torney at  Seattle,  Wash.,  is  a  graduate  of  the  University  of  Michigan; 
Winnie,  a  graduate  of  the  University  of  Michigan  and  teacher  of  latin  and 
history  in  Detroit  before  her  marriage  to  John  Nettleship,  and  they  are 
now  abroad;  Sarah  Florence,  a  graduate  of  the  school  of  music  at  the 
University  of  Michigan,  and  she  now  teaches  music  and  art  at  Quincy, 
111. ;  and  Ora  Margaret,  a  graduate  of  the  University  of  Michigan,  for  a 
number  of  years  secretary  to  the  grand  master  of  the  state  of  Illinois 
Masonry,  and  she  is  now  married  to  Athur  Millard,  lives  at  Chicago.  Mrs. 
Jones  has  21  grandchildren  and  three  great  grandchildren. 

Mrs.  Robert  E.  Jones  is  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Women's  Christian  Temperance  Union,  and  also  belongs  to  the 
McLean  County  Historical  Society.  She  has  always  taken  an  active  inter- 
est in  public  welfare,  especially  educational  affairs,  and  she  has  traveled 
extensively,  having  made  five  trips  abroad.  Mrs.  Jones'  daughter,  Mrs. 
Carnahan,  is  a  member  of  the  Lexington  Board  of  Education.  She  has 
one  son,  Charles,  who  married  Louise  Van  Dolah,  and  they  have  one 
daughter,  Given. 

Robert  E.  Jones  was  a  staunch  supporter  of  the  Republican  party 
and  served  as  road  commissioner  for  several  years.  He  was  a  well  edu- 
cated man  and  a  representative  man  of  affairs  in  Lexington  and  McLean 
County. 


Lewis  C.  Wheaton  is  an  extensive  stock  buyer  of  Lexington  and  the 
owner  of  305  acres  of  well  improved  land.  He  was  born  at  Decatur,  111., 
April  6,  1860,  the  son  of  James  S.  and  Emma  (Dawson)  Wheaton. 

James  S.  Wheaton  was  a  native  of  Fayette  County,  Ohio,  as  also  was 
his  wife.  He  died  in  1862  at  the  age  of  28  years,  leaving  one  son,  Lewis  C, 
the  subject  of  this  sketch.  Mr.  Wheaton  was  a  butcher  by  trade  and  in 
partnership  with  Mr.  Wickoff,  who  is  still  in  the  meat  business.    In  1873 


646  History  of  McLean  County 

Mrs.  Wheaton  was  married  to  Jesse  Stretch,  and  to  that  union  one  son 
was  born,  Harry  H.  Stretch,  who  lives  at  Normal.  Mrs.  Stretch  died  in 
1919  at  the  age  of  81  years. 

Lewis  C.  Wheaton  is  a  self-made  man.  He  received  his  education  in 
the  district  schools  and  lived  on  his  step-father's  farm  until  1881,  when 
he  began  buying  stock.  Mr.  Wheaton's  first  farm  was  in  Gridley  Town- 
ship and  he  now  owns  land  there  and  also  in  DeWitt  County,  111.  He  has 
been  a  leading  stockman  of  McLean  County  for  many  years  and  is  also 
a  feeder  of  stock.  Mr.  Wheaton  dealt  in  fine  horses  for  many  years  also, 
and  sold  them  throughout  the  United  States.  In  1912  he  moved  to  Lex- 
ington, where  he  owns  a  fine  residence  in  the  southeast  part  of  town.  He 
devotes  his  entire  time  to  the  buying  and  shipping  of  stock. 

On  Oct.  2,  1906,  Mr.  Wheaton  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Minnie  Atonia  Claggett,  a  native  of  Culpeper  County,  Va.,  and  the  daugh- 
ter of  Thomas  and  Columbia  (Claggett)  Claggett,  early  settlers  of  McLean 
County.  Although  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wheaton  have  no  children  of  their  own 
they  have  reared  and  educated  two,  Elmer  J.  Roy,  a  son  of  Mrs.  Wheaton's 
sister,  and  Alice  Ambrose,  a  daughter  of  Albert  and  Belle  Ambrose. 

Mr.  Wheaton  is  a  Republican  and  for  five  years  served  as  township  as- 
sessor of  El  Paso  Township,  McLean  County.  He  belongs  to  the  Knights 
of  Pythias  and  is  an  enterprising  citizen  of  McLean  County. 


John  S.  Johnston,  deceased,  was  a  veteran  of  the  Civil  War  and  one 
of  the  successful  and  enterprising  farmers  of  McLean  County.  He  was 
born  at  Hellers  Corner,  Ind.,  Dec.  1,  1838,  the  son  of  Charles  and  Rebecca 
(Stevenson)  Johnston. 

Charles  Johnston  was  a  native  of  New  Jersey,  and  his  wife  was  born 
at  Xenia,  Ohio.  He  went  to  Ohio  when  he  was  a  young  man,  married 
there,  and  then  brought  his  family  to  Illinois  during  the  early  days.  They 
settled  on  a  farm  west  of  Danvers,  and  later  moved  to  White  Oak  Town- 
ship, where  Mr.  Johnston  became  a  large  landowner  and  successful  farmer. 
There  were  nine  children  in  the  Johnston  family,  as  follows:  James  S., 
deceased;  Mary  N.,  deceased,  was  the  wife  of  Charles  Barnes,  and  he  lives 
at  Mound  City,  Kan.;  John  S.,  the  subject  of  this  sketch;  Martha  Jane, 
deceased,  was  the  wife  of  W.  J.  Baldridge ;  Joseph  Henry,  deceased ;  Cath- 


History  of  McLean  County  647 

erine,  deceased,  was  the  wife  of  Henry  Wright;  Rebecca,  the  widow  of 
John  A.  Benson,  lives  at  Middlepoint,  Ohio;  Amanda,  deceased,  was  the 
wife  of  S.  C.  Kirkpatrick;  and  Sarah,  married  Alonzo  McKinney,  lives  at 
Normal,  111. 

John  S.  Johnston  grew  to  manhood  on  his  father's  farm  and  received 
his  education  in  the  district  schools  and  at  Illinois  Wesleyan  University. 
At  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  War  he  enlisted  with  the  3rd  Illinois  Volun- 
teer Cavalry  and  served  for  three  years  and  three  months,  and  was  raised 
to  the  rank  of  sergeant.  After  the  close  of  the  war,  Mr.  Johnston  returned 
to  McLean  County  and  engaged  in  general  farming  and  stock  raising.  He 
owned  240  acres  of  land  and  was  a  breeder  of  good  stock,  and  also  an  ex- 
tensive cattle  feeder.  He  came  to  Hudson,  111.,  in  January,  1889,  and  died 
Feb.  5,  1905. 

On  Jan.  1,  1865,  Mr.  Johnston  was  married  to  Miss  Martha  Elizabeth 
Havens,  a  native  of  Hudson  Township,  McLean  County,  born  Feb.  11,  1841, 
and  the  daughter  of  Hiram  and  Sarah  Ann  (Trimmer)  Havens.  The  Ha- 
vens family  came  from  Licking  County,  Ohio,  to  McLean  County,  and 
Jesse  Havens,  grandfather  of  Mrs.  Johnston,  settled  at  Hudson,  111.,  in 
1826,  on  land  now  known  as  Haven's  Grove.  He  was  the  first  postmaster 
of  Hudson.  Mrs.  John  S.  Johnston,  who  died  Feb.  15,  1887,  was  one  of  the 
first  students  to  be  enrolled  at  Illinois  State  Normal,  at  Normal.  Her  fa- 
ther, Hiram  Havens,  was  known  as  Squire  Havens  and  was  one  of  the 
prominent  farmers  of  Hudson  Township.  At  one  time  in  the  winter  he 
shot  a  wild  deer  near  his  home.  He  walked  through  the  woods,  following 
the  steps  of  the  deer,  and  when  he  came  upon  it  a  man  was  skinning  it. 
Mr.  Havens  discovered  that  the  man  had  also  shot  the  deer,  both  their 
bullets  striking  at  the  same  spot,  although  the  bullets  left  the  body  at 
different  spots. 

To  John  S.  and  Martha  Elizabeth  (Havens)  Johnston  six  children 
were  born,  as  follows:  Lora,  further  mention  of  whom  is  made  below; 
Aura,  a  farmer,  lives  in  Hudson  Township;  Grace,  lives  at  Hudson,  111.; 
Mae,  lives  at  Hudson,  111. ;  Emma,  married  J.  A.  King,  lives  at  Atlanta, 
111. ;  and  Sarah  R.,  married  Chester  A.  King,  lives  at  Normal,  111. 

Lora  Johnston  was  born  and  reared  in  White  Oak  Township  and  at- 
tended Illinois  Wesleyan  University,  and  later  taught  school  for  six  years. 
In  1903  Miss  Johnston  was  appointed  postmistress  of  Hudson,  111.,  which 
office  she  held  until  July,  1915.  She  was  acting  postmistress  from  Jan. 
24th  until  April  24th,  1923,  and  later  appointed  postmistress  again,  which 
office  she  now  holds.    Miss  Johnston  is  local  correspondent  for  The  Panta- 


648  History  of  McLean  County 

graph  of  Bloomington  and  she  is  one  of  the  interesting  and  refined  women 
of  the  community.  After  the  death  of  her  mother  and  father,  she  as- 
sumed the  role  of  provider  and  brought  up  her  brothers  and  sisters.  Dur- 
ing the  World  War  Miss  Johnston  was  very  active  in  the  Red  Cross  work. 
She  was  chairman  of  the  organization  for  Hudson  Township  and  devoted 
all  her  time  to  the  cause. 

In  politics  Mr.  Johnston  was  a  Republican  and  he  was  a  member  of 
the  Methodist  Church.  He  was  an  industrious,  energetic  man,  who  held 
the  high  esteem  of  his  neighbors. 


William  G.  Long,  now  living  retired  at  Lexington,  has  been  a  prom- 
inent farmer  and  stockman  of  McLean  County  for  many  years.  He 
was  born  in  Spencer  County,  Ind.,  March  25,  1847,  the  son  of  C.  W.  and 
Harriet    (Franklin)   Long. 

C.  W.  Long  was  bom  in  Kentucky  and  at  the  age  of  16  years  went 
to  Missouri  and  later  to  Indiana,  where  he  farmed  for  a  number  of 
years.  He  later  returned  to  Missouri  and  was  a  prominent  breeder  of 
horses  in  Lincoln  County  and  sold  his  horses  at  St.  Louis  during  the 
early  days.  Mr.  Long  moved  his  family  to  McLean  County  at  the  time 
of  the  building  of  the  Chicago  and  Alton  Railroad  through  that  county 
and  he  built  a  hotel  at  Lexington  with  Noah  Franklin.  Mr.  Long  was 
married  the  first  time  to  Harriet  Franklin,  a  native  of  Indiana,  who 
died  in  1863  at  the  age  of  36  years,  and  to  this  union  three  children 
were  born,  as  follows:  Mary  Elizabeth,  the  widow  of  R.  S.  Dement,  lives 
at  Chicago,  111.;  William  G.,  the  subject  of  this  sketch;  and  Nancy 
Emma,  deceased,  was  the  wife  of  George  Mahon.  After  the  death  of 
his  first  wife  Mr.  Long  was  married  to  Miss  Jane  Pollard  and  they 
moved  to  Odessa,  Mo.,  where  he  died  in  1891.  To  this  union  five  chil- 
dren were  born,  one  of  whom  is  now  living,  Clara,  the  widow  of  Mr. 
Gilbert,  and  she  lives  at  Odessa,  Mo. 

William  G.  Long  was  reared  and  educated  in  Lexington  and  was 
employed  as  a  clerk  in  the  general  store  of  George  T.  Dement  and  Com- 
pany. He  then  followed  general  farming  in  Lexington  Township,  where 
he  owned  217  acres  of  land.  After  several  years  of  farming  Mr.  Long's 
health  failed  and  he  went  to  San  Diego,  Calif.,  where  he  worked  as  a 
street  car  conductor  for  four  and  one-half  years.  He  returned  to  Lex- 
ington, 111.,  in  1895,  and  again  followed  farming  and  stock  raising  until 


History  of  McLean  County  649 

1915,  when  he  retired  and  moved  to  Lexington.  After  selling  his  farm 
in  Lexington  Township,  Mr.  Long  purchased  320  acres  of  land  in  In- 
diana, which  he  sold  one  year  later.  In  the  80's  Mr.  Long  made  some 
improvements  as  to  road  graveling.  He  built  one  mile  of  gravel  road 
from  the  Mackinaw  river  bridge  near  his  farm  to  Lexington  at  a  cost  of 
$1,000.  The  road  was  10  feet  wide  and  one  foot  deep.  Mr.  Long  states 
that  this  was  the  first  gravel  road  built  in  the  state  of  Illinois.  He  do- 
nated the  gravel  and  another  man  and  himself  with  two  teams  did  the 
construction.  The  money  was  donated  by  the  Lexington  business  men; 
the  farmers  did  the  hauling. 

On  Aug.  16,  1870,  Mr.  Long  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Emma  P.  Flesher,  a  native  of  Lexington  Township,  born  in  a  log  cabin, 
April  29,  1852.  She  was  the  daughter  of  Andrew  J.  and  Sarah  (Brown) 
Flesher  and  came  to  Lexington  to  live  when  she  was  12  years  of  age. 
Her  father  was  a  well  known  lumber  dealer  there.  Mrs.  Long  died  Dec. 
10,  1920.  Mrs.  W.  G.  Long  was  a  very  loving  wife,  a  devout  Christian 
woman.  For  many  years  she  was  organist  in  the  Presbyterian  Church 
and  later  the  Methodist  Church  of  which  she  was  a  member.  She  was 
a  great  helpmate  to  her  husband.  They  were  as  one  in  all  things.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Long  had  no  children  but  adopted  a  son,  R.  H.  Long,  who  now 
lives  at  Montgomery,  Ala.,  where  he  raises  pure  bred  cattle.  He  has 
two  sons,  Robert  and  Clarence  Long. 

Mr.  Long  has  served  on  the  city  council  and  is  a  firm  believer  in 
prohibition.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Church  and  has  held 
many  offices  in  his  church.     He  is  a  respected  citizen  of  his  community. 


Frank  Allison,  a  retired  farmer  of  Lexington  Township,  is  a  promi- 
nent and  substantial  citizen  of  McLean  County.  He  was  born  in  Allin 
Township,  McLean  County,  May  10,  1870,  the  son  of  Benjamin  Franklin 
and  Martha  (Johnson)  Allison. 

Benjamin  Franklin  Allison  was  a  native  of  Ohio,  born  in  1846.  He 
came  to  Illinois  and  settled  on  a  farm  four  miles  southwest  of  Lexington, 
which  he  farmed  for  17  years.  Mr.  Allison  died  in  1897  and  his  widow 
now  lives  with  her  children  at  Ames,  Iowa.  She  was  a  native  of  Twin 
Grove  Township.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Allison  were  the  parents  of  eight  chil- 
dren, one  of  whom  is  deceased. 


650  History  of  McLean  County 

Frank  Allison  received  his  education  in  the  district  schools  and  has 
always  lived  on  a  farm.  In  1891  he  rented  land  in  Money  Creek  Township, 
which  he  farmed  until  1919,  when  he  purchased  25  acres  of  land  in  Lex- 
ington Township,  just  outside  of  the  city  limits  of  Lexington.  He  now 
lives  retired. 

On  Dec.  17,  1890,  Mr.  Allison  was  married  to  Miss  Minnie  May  John- 
son, a  native  of  Miami  County,  Ohio,  and  the  daughter  of  George  and 
Mary  Jane  (Surface)  Johnson,  the  former  a  native  of  Ohio  and  the  latter 
of  Illinois.  To  Frank  and  Minnie  May  (Johnson)  Allison  four  children 
have  been  born,  as  follows :  Ruby  Jane,  married  W.  F.  Beck,  lives  in  Lex- 
ington Township;  Josephine  Elizabeth,  married  Ralph  Berry,  lives  in 
Money  Creek  Township;  Flossie  A.,  married  Lincoln  West,  lives  in  Blue 
Mound  Township;  and  Eugene  F.,  at  home.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Allison  have 
five  grandchildren. 

Mr.  Allison  is  a  Republican  and  a  member  of  the  Christian  Church. 
He  stands  high  in  the  community  and  he  and  his  wife  have  many  friends 
and  acquaintances. 


R.  T.  Claggett,  vice-president  of  The  Peoples  Bank  of  Lexington,  and 
leading  farmer  of  McLean  County,  is  a  native  of  Fairfax  County,  Va., 
where  he  was  born  May  10,  1858.  He  is  the  son  of  James  A.  and  Cather- 
ine (Johnson)  Claggett. 

James  A.  Claggett  was  born  in  Virginia  and  came  to  McLean  County 
with  his  family  on  Dec.  25,  1866,  and  settled  on  a  farm  in  Lexington 
Township,  where  Mr.  Claggett  became  a  successful  stockman.  He  owned 
400  acres  of  land,  which  is  now  owned  by  his  son,  R.  T.  Claggett,  the  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch.  Mr.  Claggett  died  in  1886  at  the  age  of  66  years  and 
his  wife  died  in  1900  at  the  age  of  86  years.  They  had  three  children, 
of  whom  R.  T.  is  the  youngest  and  the  only  one  now  living. 

R.  T.  Claggett  received  his  education  in  the  district  schools,  but  was 
not  able  to  receive  much  schooling  as  his  mother  lost  all  the  slaves  on 
their  farm  during  the  Civil  War,  and  he  was  obliged  to  work  on  the  farm 
when  he  was  quite  young.  Mr.  Claggett  has  always  been  a  farmer  and 
now  operates  400  acres  of  well-improved  land  in  Lexington  Township. 
He  moved  to  Lexington  in  1897  and  owns  a  beautiful  home  at  the  corner 
of  Cedar  and  Chestnut  avenues. 

On  Jan.  24,  1884,  Mr.  Claggett  was  married  to  Miss  Minnie  Biggs,  a 


History  of  McLean  County  651 

native  of  Money  Creek  Township,  born  Jan.  31,  1863,  and  the  daughter  of 
Josiah  and  Lucy  (Empie)  Biggs,  early  settlers  of  McLean  County.  Mrs. 
Minnie  (Biggs)  Claggett,  on  her  mother's  side,  is  a  direct  descendant  of 
Barbara  Fritchie;  on  her  father's  of  John  Quincy  Adams.  Josiah  Biggs 
was  born  in  Money  Creek  Township,  Feb.  26,  1834,  the  son  of  Lemuel  and 
Nancy  (Mullen)  Biggs,  natives  of  Ohio.  One  son  of  Lemuel  Biggs  is  still 
living,  Lemuel,  and  he  lives  at  Seattle,  Wash.  Josiah  Biggs  was  married 
on  Aug.  30,  1860,  to  Lucy  Empie,  a  native  of  New  Albany,  N.  Y.,  born 
Aug.  30,  1842.  Mr.  Biggs  died  in  1900  and  his  wife  died  July  29,  1922. 
They  were  the  parents  of  five  children,  of  whom  two  are  now  living,  Mrs. 
Claggett  and  Hattie,  the  widow  of  Frank  Brown,  Seattle,  Wash.  Mrs. 
Claggett's  great  aunt,  Deliah  (Mullen)  Evans,  was  the  first  woman  teacher 
to  teach  in  the  school  that  stood  on  the  present  site  of  Bloomington,  111. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  R.  T.  Claggett  have  no  children  of  their  own,  but  reared 
Elmo  F.  Hill  and  his  sister,  Catherine  Hill  was  adopted. 

Elmo  F.  Hill  was  born  at  Lexington,  Feb.  3,  1899,  the  son  of  Elmer 
and  Daisy  (Mosier)  Hill,  both  deceased.  He  enlisted  for  service  during 
the  World  War  from  Peoria,  in  October,  1917,  and  was  assigned  to  the  5th 
Balloon  Corps.  In  January,  1918,  after  training  at  Omaha,  Nebr.,  he 
sailed  for  France,  where  he  died  on  Sept.  23,  1918,  from  influenza.  Mr. 
Hill's  body  was  returned  to  this  country  in  1920  and  buried  in  Selma 
Cemetery,  McLean  County. 

Catherine  Claggett  was  born  Oct.  5,  1900.  She  has  attended  Lexing- 
ton High  School,  Fairy  Hall  at  Lake  Forest,  111.,  and  in  1924  she  will  be 
graduated  from  the  university  at  Normal,  111. 

R.  T.  Claggett  is  a  Democrat  and  a  member  of  the  Baptist  Church, 
as  also  is  his  wife.  They  have  an  extensive  acquaintance  in  McLean 
County  and  stand  high  in  the  community. 


M.  E.  Jenny,  who  is  successfully  engaged  in  business  at  Lexington, 
was  born  at  Highland,  111.,  Nov.  10,  1883,  and  is  the  son  of  S.  L.  and  Louisa 
(Steiner)  Jenny. 

S.  L.  Jenny,  a  native  of  Switzerland,  came  to  this  country  when  he 
was  a  young  man  and  settled  a  Highland,  111.  He  served  throughout  the 
Civil  War,  having  enlisted  from  Jamestown,  111.  Mr.  Jenny  now  lives 
retired  at  Highland  and  is  83  years  of  age.    His  wife  was  born  in  Illinois 


652  History  of  McLean  County 

and  died  in  1921  at  the  age  of  72  years.  They  were  members  of  the  Ger- 
man Evangelical  Church  and  the  parents  of  five  sons  and  five  daughters, 
all  of  whom  are  living.  M.  E.,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  is  the  eighth  in 
order  of  birth. 

M.  E.  Jenny  was  reared  on  his  father's  farm  and  received  his  educa- 
tion in  the  public  schools.  He  started  life  as  a  farm  hand  near  Peoria, 
111.,  and  when  he  was  21  years  old  he  started  farming  on  rented  land.  In 
1915  Mr.  Jenny  came  to  Lexington  and  engaged  in  the  grocery  business. 
He  has  built  up  a  fine  business  and  is  among  the  enterprising  merchants 
of  the  community.  In  1917  Mr.  Jenny  began  handling  farm  implements 
in  connection  with  his  store  and  he  now  represents  the  International  Har- 
vester Company.  He  owns  two  store  buildings  at  Lexington  as  well  as 
a  fine  home. 

On  Dec.  10,  1920,  Mr.  Jenny  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Alma 
Frieberg,  a  native  of  Saybrook,  111.,  and  the  daughter  of  Charles  and  M. 
Frieburg.  Mr.  Frieburg  lives  at  Saybrook,  111.,  and  his  wife  is  deceased. 
To  M.  E.  and  Alma  (Frieburg)  Jenny  one  daughter  has  been  born,  Do- 
rothy, born  Feb.  25,  1923. 

Mr.  Jenny  is  a  Republican,  a  member  of  the  Christian  Church,  and  be- 
longs to  the  Knights  of  Pythias  and  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America. 
In  1916  he  began  trap  shooting  and  in  1922  won  the  state  championship 
at  a  meet  where  150  trap  shooters  engaged  in.  Out  of  200  targets,  Mr. 
Jenny  shot  197.  Mr.  Jenny  is  an  excellent  business  man  of  Lexington, 
where  he  is  highly  esteemed  as  an  alert  and  enterprising  citizen. 


George  W.  Priest,  a  substantial  and  well  known  farmer  and  stock- 
man of  Hudson  Township,  is  a  member  of  one  of  McLean  County's  oldest 
families.  He  was  born  on  the  farm  where  he  now  lives,  Sept.  21,  1846, 
the  son  of  Elijah  and  Rebecca  (Hinthorn)  Priest. 

Elijah  Priest  was  a  native  of  Coshocton  County,  Ohio,  as  also  was  his 
wife.  They  came  to  McLean  County  in  1835  and  settled  on  the  farm  now 
owned  by  their  son,  George  W.  Priest,  the  subject  of  this  sketch.  At 
that  time  there  was  only  one  frame  house  standing  in  Bloomington  and 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Priest  were  interesting  pioneers  of  the  county.  He  died  in 
1890  at  the  age  of  79  years  and  his  wife  died  in  1867,  at  the  age  of  54 
years.    They  had  six  children,  of  whom  only  one  is  now  living,  George  W., 


History  of  McLean  County  653 

our  subject.  After  the  death  of  his  wife,  Elijah  Priest  was  later  married 
to  Miss  Minerva  McCurdy,  a  native  of  Ohio,  who  died  in  1875.  No  chil- 
dren were  born  to  this  union. 

George  W.  Priest  has  always  been  a  farmer.  He  received  his  educa- 
tion in  the  district  schools  of  Hudson  Township  and  then  engaged  in 
farming  on  the  home  place  with  his  father.  Mr.  Priest  has  improved  the 
home  place  considerably  and  he  is  known  as  a  breeder  of  good  stock. 

In  1896  Mr.  Priest  was  married  to  Miss  Ellen  Priest,  a  native  of  Iro- 
quois County,  111.,  who  died  June  24,  1923.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Priest  had  no 
children. 

Mr.  Priest  is  a  Democrat  and  served  as  school  director  for  25  years. 
He  is  one  of  the  highly  esteemed  and  prominent  men  of  his  community. 


Stephen  A.  Finley,  now  living  retired  at  Lexington,  is  a  member  of 
one  of  McLean  County's  oldest  families.  He  was  born  at  Cincinnati,  Ohio, 
March  24,  1855,  the  son  of  James  and  Harriet  (Owens)  Finley. 

The  Finley  family  came  to  Illinois  from  Brown  County,  Ohio,  in  1857 
and  settled  on  a  farm  in  Blue  Mound  Township,  where  James  Finley  be- 
came a  prosperous  farmer.  He  later  moved  to  Lexington  Township,  where 
he  operated  100  acres  of  well  improved  land.  Mr.  Finley  died  Nov.  15, 
1907,  at  the  age  of  82  years  and  his  wife,  who  was  born  Sept.  15,  1824, 
died  Nov.  29,  1901.  They  were  the  parents  of  12  children,  five  of  whom 
are  now  living,  as  follows:  Mary,  the  widow  of  J.  A.  Roberts,  lives  at 
Varna,  111. ;  Curtis,  lives  at  Schuyler,  Nebr. ;  Stephen  A.,  the  subject  of 
this  sketch;  Richard  C,  a  retired  farmer,  lives  at  Bloomington;  and  G.  L., 
lives  at  Red  Lodge,  Mont. 

Stephen  A.  Finley  was  two  years  of  age  when  his  family  came  to 
Illinois  and  he  received  his  education  in  the  district  schools.  He  began 
farming  on  rented  land  in  1883  and  later  purchased  85  acres  in  Lexington 
Township,  McLean  County.  Mr.  Finley  added  to  his  land  holdings  when- 
ever possible  and  now  owns  285  acres  of  well-improved  land  in  Lexington 
Township,  which  is  operated  by  his  son.  He  retired  in  1920  and  now  re- 
sides at  Lexington. 

On  Feb.  20,  1883,  Mr.  Finley  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Laura 
Elbert,  a  native  of  New  Albany,  Ind.,  born  Oct.  17,  1857,  and  the  daugh- 
ter of  William  and  Elizabeth  (Smith)  Elbert.     Mr.  Elbert  was  born  near 


654  History  of  McLean  County 

Pittsburgh,  Pa.,  and  came  to  McLean  County  in  1857,  and  settled  on  land 
in  Blue  Mound  Township.  He  served  with  the  33d  Illinois  Volunteer  In- 
fantry throughout  the  Civil  War  and  also  served  in  the  Mexican  War. 
Mr.  Elbert  died  Aug.  20,  1907,  at  the  Danville  Military  Soldiers  Home, 
and  his  wife  died  in  1867.  They  were  the  parents  of  five  children,  as  fol- 
lows: Mrs.  Finley;  Sarah,  married  F.  P.  Casey,  lives  at  Peoria,  111.;  N.  L., 
lives  in  Blue  Mound  Township  on  the  old  home  place ;  Anna,  the  widow  of 
C.  K.  Hutchinson,  lives  at  Lexington;  and  Nettie,  married  Parker  Hefner, 
lives  in  Blue  Mound  Township.  To  Sephen  A.  and  Laura  (Elbert)  Finley 
five  children  have  been  born,  as  follows:  Anna,  deceased,  was  the  wife 
of  Harold  Brown ;  Elbert,  lives  at  Hudson,  111. ;  Myrtle,  deceased ;  Eugene, 
who  operates  the  home  place ;  and  one  child  died  in  infancy.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Finley  have  four  grandsons. 

Mr.  Finley  is  identified  with  the  Democratic  party  in  politics  and  he 
has  served  as  school  director  for  20  years  and  as  road  commissioner.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Church  and  belongs  to  the  Independent  Or- 
der of  Odd  Fellows.    Mr.  Finley  is  a  substantial  citizen. 


Van  Armstrong  is  a  prosperous  farmer  and  stockman  of  Lexington 
Township  and  the  owner  of  460  acres  of  well  improved  land.  He  was 
born  on  a  farm  in  Highland  County,  Va.,  Dec.  22,  1875,  and  is  the  son  of 
William  and  Susan  (Botkin)  Armstrong. 

William  Armstrong  and  his  wife  were  born  in  Highland  County,  Va., 
where  he  operated  a  large  farm  for  his  uncle,  John  T.  Armstrong.  During 
the  Civil  War  he  served  for  three  years  with  the  Confederate  army  and 
he  died  in  1916  at  the  age  of  68  years.  Mrs.  Armstrong  still  lives  on  the 
farm  in  Virginia.  They  had  eight  children,  all  of  whom  are  living,  and 
Van,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  the  fourth  child  in  order  of  birth. 

Van  Armstrong  spent  his  boyhood  on  the  farm  and  attended  the  dis- 
trict schools  of  Virginia.  When  he  was  15  years  of  age  he  left  home  and 
came  to  Lexington,  111.,  where  he  remained  one  year  and  then  went  to 
Iowa.  Mr.  Armstrong  borrowed  $15.00  from  a  schoolmate  to  help  pay  his 
way  to  Illinois  from  Virginia  and  after  coming  here  worked  on  a  farm 
for  $18.00  per  month  for  three  years  in  the  employ  of  William  Rockel. 
He  later  farmed  the  Ed  Kemp  farm  for  20  years  and  in  1920  purchased 
his  present  farm  in  Lexington  Township,  which  was  originally  the  Will- 


History  of  McLean  County  655 

iam  Rockel  farm.  Mr.  Armstrong  raises  stock  and  also  carries  on  general 
farming  and  his  farm  is  well  improved  and  among  the  valuable  stock 
farms  of  the  community. 

On  Dec.  25,  1899,  Mr.  Armstrong  was  married  to  Miss  Alice  Turnip- 
seed,  a  native  of  Lexington,  and  the  daughter  of  D.  T.  and  Emma  (Cross) 
Turnipseed.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Armstrong  four  children  have  been  born, 
as  follows:  Lola,  married  Fred  Froelich,  lives  at  Gridley,  and  they  have 
two  children,  Van  Edwin  and  Fred  Franklin  Froelich;  Florence,  Willie, 
and  Glenard,  all  at  home. 

Mr.  Armstrong  is  identified  with  the  Democratic  party  in  politics 
and  he  has  served  as  a  member  of  the  school  board.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America  and  belongs  to  the  Knights  of  Pythias. 
Mr.  Armstrong  is  a  man  of  integrity  and  ability,  a  good  farmer  and  an 
excellent  citizen. 


Manfred  J.  Trimmer,  an  enterprising  and  well  known  farmer  and 
stockman  of  Money  Creek  Township,  is  a  native  of  McLean  County.  He 
was  born  on  a  farm  in  Money  Creek  Township,  Aug.  3,  1856,  the  son  of 
Daniel  and  Mary  Ann  (Stretch)  Trimmer. 

Daniel  Trimmer  was  born  in  New  Jersey  and  was  one  of  the  first  set- 
tlers of  McLean  County,  having  come  here  in  1826.  He  engaged  in  farm- 
ing and  was  one  of  the  prominent  stockmen  of  the  early  days.  He  was 
accidentally  shot  while  on  his  way  to  the  polls  to  vote  for  President  Lin- 
coln, when  his  gun  accidentally  exploded.  Mrs.  Trimmer,  a  native  of  Lick- 
ing County,  Ohio,  died  in  1892.  By  her  first  marriage  she  had  10  children, 
all  of  whom  are  now  deceased  except  Manfred  J.,  the  subject  of  this 
sketch.  She  later  married  W.  J.  Fryer  and  to  that  union  two  children 
were  born,  one  of  whom  is  now  living,  Charles  E.  Fryer,  who  lives  at 
Bloomington. 

Manfred  J.  Trimmer  was  four  years  old  when  his  father  died.  He 
received  his  education  in  the  district  schools  and  has  always  followed  farm- 
ing and  stock  raising,  and  he  lived  on  the  same  farm  in  Money  Creek 
Township  for  20  years,  which  he  rented.  In  1913  Mr.  Trimmer  purchased 
his  present  farm  of  12  acres  and  made  extensive  improvements.  He 
has  been  a  breeder  of  pure-bred  hogs  for  35  years  and  has  made  many 
exhibits  of  his  Chester  White  hogs  at  fairs.  He  also  is  an  extensive  ship- 
per of  pure-bred  hogs  for  breeding  and  also  raises  shorthorn  cattle. 


656  History  of  McLean  County 

On  Feb.  2,  1882,  Mr.  Trimmer  was  married  to  Miss  Ella  Ogden,  a  na- 
tive of  Money  Creek  Township,  and  the  daughter  of  Albert  and  Sarah 
(Pertle)  Ogden,  the  former  a  native  of  McLean  County  and  the  latter  of 
Indiana.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Trimmer  two  children  have  been  born,  as  fol- 
lows: Earl  C,  married  Bernadine  O'Hara,  lives  in  Los  Angeles,  Calif., 
and  they  have  one  daughter,  Valeria;  and  Ruby  L.,  married  Hershel 
Kemp,  lives  near  Burlington,  Iowa,  and  they  have  four  children,  Ogden, 
Franklin,  Lucille  and  Morine. 

Mr.  Trimmer  is  a  Republican,  served  as  county  supervisor  for  about 
three  and  one-half  years,  road  commissioner  for  four  years,  and  as  school 
director  for  35  years.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd 
Fellows  and  a  substantial  citizen  of  McLean  County. 


Noah  Franklin,  president  of  The  State  Bank  of  Lexington,  and  the 
owner  of  1,100  acres  of  well  improved  land  in  Money  Creek  and  Gridley 
Townships,  has  been  prominently  identified  with  McLean  County  for 
many  years.  He  was  born  in  Owen  County,  Indiana,  June  29,  1831,  the 
son  of  John  and  Mary   (Puett)   Franklin. 

The  Franklin  family  originally  came  from  England  and  at  an  early 
date  emigrated  to  North  Carolina,  where  John  Franklin  was  born.  In 
1818  he  and  his  wife  removed  to  Indiana  where  they  remained  until 
1850,  then  coming  to  McLean  County,  where  they  settled  on  land  in 
Money  Creek  Township.  Mr.  Franklin  was  a  colonel  in  the  state  militia 
of  Indiana  and  died  in  1860.  He  and  his  wife  had  11  children,  of  whom 
all  are  deceased  except  Noah,  the  subject  of  this  sketch. 

Noah  Franklin  was  reared  on  a  farm  and  received  his  education 
in  the  district  schools  near  Lexington,  111.  He  has  always  followed  farm- 
ing and  stock  raising  and  has  met  with  marked  success.  In  1853  he 
purchased  320  acres  of  land  warrants  from  Mexican  war  soldiers, 
through  the  government,  at  $1.00  per  acre,  which  he  improved  from  raw 
prairie.  Mr.  Franklin  has  added  to  his  land  holdings  until  he  now  owns 
1,100  acres  in  McLean  County.  He  has  been  widely  known  as  a  breeder 
of  Aberdeen  Angus  cattle  and  as  a  shipper  of  stock.  In  1877  he  re- 
moved to  Lexington,  where  he  now  lives  retired. 

Mr.  Franklin  is  one  of  the  organizers  of  The  State  Bank  of  Lexing- 
ton and  has  served  as  president  for  the  past  six  years. 


NOAH    FRANKLIN. 


History  of  McLean  County  657 

On  June  29,  1854,  Mr.  Franklin  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Sarah  Spawr,  a  native  of  McLean  County,  and  the  daughter  of  Jacob 
Spawr.  To  this  union  five  children  were  born:  Ida  M.,  the  widow  of 
Charles  Bush,  lives  with  her  parents;  Elmo,  a  farmer,  lives  in  Money 
Creek  Township ;  Minnie,  deceased ;  Bert  A.,  an  attorney  of  Blooming- 
ton,  a  sketch  of  whom  appears  in  this  volume;  and  Lola,  deceased.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Franklin  have  three  grandchildren  and  two  great  grandchil- 
dren. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Franklin  will  celebrate  their  70th  wedding  anniver- 
sary in  June,  1924.  At  the  time  of  their  marriage  the  Chicago  &  Alton 
had  just  completed  construction  work  between  Bloomington  and  Lex- 
ington, and  the  superintendent  of  construction  honored  the  young  cou- 
ple by  sending  a  coach  from  Bloomington  to  Lexington  to  take  them 
back  for  their  wedding,  which  took  place  in  Bloomington.  Thus  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Franklin  and  their  wedding  party  of  40  guests  were  the  first 
passengers  on  the  new  railroad.  An  amusing  incident  which  occurred 
on  the  return  trip,  made  on  a  flat  car,  was  when  one  of  the  young  ladies, 
Miss  Barnes,  raised  her  umbrella  while  the  train  was  in  motion.  A  gust 
of  wind  blew  it  from  her  hands  into  a  nearby  field.  The  train,  however, 
was  stopped  and  the  engineer  backed  the  cars  to  recover  the  lost  um- 
brella. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Franklin  began  life  with  a  capital  of  but  $300.00.  Mr. 
Franklin  is  a  Republican  and  served  as  mayor  of  Lexington  for  one 
term.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Christian  Church  and  stands  high  in  the 
community  and  McLean  County. 


William  E.  Piatt  is  a  prosperous  farmer  and  stockman  of  Hudson 
Township  and  the  owner  of  328  acres  of  good  farm  land.  He  was  born  on 
the  farm  where  he  now  lives,  May  21,  1867,  and  is  the  son  of  Jesse  and 
Jane  (Hinthorn)  Piatt. 

Jesse  Piatt  was  a  native  of  Champaign  County,  111.,  born  Jan.  13, 
1830,  and  his  wife  was  born  in  Ohio.  When  he  was  a  young  man,  Mr. 
Piatt  came  to  McLean  County  and  settled  on  the  present  Piatt  farm  in 
Hudson  Township,  where  he  lived  until  the  time  of  his  death,  in  1907. 
His  first  wife  died  Sept.  16,  1875,  at  the  age  of  48  years  and  Mr.  Piatt  was 
later  married  to  Miss  Sarah  Hinthorn.     No  children  were  born  to  this 

(40) 


658 


History  of  McLean  County 


union.  William  E.  Piatt,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  is  the  only  one  of 
five  children  now  living  that  were  born  to  Jesse  and  Jane  (Hinthorn)  Piatt. 

William  E.  Piatt  has  always  lived  on  the  same  farm  in  Hudson  Town- 
ship, which  he  purchased  in  1909.  He  received  his  education  in  the  dis- 
trict schools  and  started  life  farming  on  the  home  place.  Mr.  Piatt  has 
made  improvements  on  the  place  and  is  a  successful  farmer. 

On  Nov.  16,  1916,  Mr.  Piatt  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Blanche 
Hinthorn,  a  native  of  Waldo  Township,  McLean  County,  and  the  daughter 
of  Eli  and  Minnie  (Brown)  Hinthorn,  natives  of  McLean  County.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Piatt  have  two  children,  as  follows:  Edward  Jesse  and  Dorothy 
Fern,  both  at  home. 

Mr.  Piatt  is  identified  with  the  Democratic  party  in  politics  and  has 
served  as  school  director  of  District  No.  202.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Inde- 
pendent Order  of  Odd  Fellows  and  is  an  enterprising  and  progressive 
citizen  of  McLean  County. 


Charles  E.  Ransom,  a  leading  farmer  and  stockman  of  Lexington 
Township,  and  the  owner  of  168  acres  of  well  improved  land,  was  born 
in  Cavalo,  Coshocton  County,  Ohio,  Feb.  8,  1847,  the  son  of  Thomas  L. 
and  Ann  (Pierson)  Ransom. 

Thomas  L.  Ransom  was  a  native  of  Ohio  and  a  successful  farmer. 
He  served  throughout  the  Civil  War  and  died  in  1898.  Thomas  L.  and 
Ann  (Pierson)  Ransom  had  two  children,  as  follows:  Temperance,  de- 
ceased, was  the  wife  of  Dr.  E.  L.  Dooley;  and  Charles  E.,  the  subject  of 
this  sketch.  Mrs.  Ransom  was  married  the  second  time  to  James  Adams, 
a  native  of  Kentucky  and  a  pioneer  settler  of  Illinois.  No  children  were 
born  to  this  union,  and  she  died  in  February,  1884,  at  the  age  of  62 
years.  Thomas  L.  Ransom  was  married  also  a  second  time  to  Mrs.  Max- 
field  and  had  three  children  by  his  second  marriage,  as  follows:  Ella 
M.  LeBrun,  Louisiana ;  May,  now  lives  in  Louisiana,  and  Clara,  deceased. 

Charles  E.  Ransom  was  reared  by  an  uncle  and  aunt,  James  S.  and 
Mary  Jane  (Morrison)  Pierson.  He  received  his  education  in  the  Pleasant 
Hill  District  School  and  rented  land  until  1878,  when  he  purchased  his 
present  farm,  which  is  located  in  Lexington  Township.  He  carries  on 
general  farming  and  is  among  the  efficient  farmers  of  the  township. 

On  March  14,  1888,  Mr.  Ransom  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Josephine  Dinsmore,  a  native  of  Knox  County,  Ohio,  born  March  2,  1858, 


History  of  McLean  County  659 

and  the  daughter  of  John  M.  and  Martha  J.  (Guy)  Dinsmore,  natives  of 
Pennsylvania  and  early  settlers  of  Ohio.  At  the  close  of  the  Civil  War  the 
Dinsmore  family  went  to  Iowa  and  two  years  later  moved  to  Jasper 
County,  Mo.  In  1897,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dinsmore  moved  to  Kansas  City, 
where  he  died.  Mrs.  Dinsmore  died  at  Carthage,  Mo.  In  1883  Mrs.  Ran- 
som came  to  McLean  County  to  visit  relatives  and  while  here  met  Mr. 
Ransom.  Before  her  marriage  she  was  employed  by  The  Carthage  Press 
for  13  years,  as  she  had  learned  the  printer's  trade  in  1875.  She  also 
taught  school  before  her  marriage.  To  Charles  E.  and  Josephine  (Dins- 
more) Ransom  three  children  have  been  born,  as  follows:  Guy  D.,  mar- 
ried Fern  Sprouse,  and  they  have  three  children,  Ruth  Anne,  Charles 
Robert  and  Louis  Joseph;  Truman,  married  May  McMeekin,  and  they 
have  one  child,  Betty  Louise;  and  Mary  Louise,  lives  at  home. 

In  politics  Mr.  Ransom  is  a  Republican  and  he  has  served  as  school 
director  of  Adams  School.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church 
and  has  been  a  ruling  elder  over  40  years.  He  is  one  of  the  substantial 
and  highly  respected  citizens  of  McLean  County.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Sons  of  the  American  Revolution. 


Albert  S.  Ogden,  deceased,  was  a  prominent  farmer  of  McLean  County 
for  many  years.  He  was  born  on  a  farm  in  Money  Creek  Township,  Mc- 
Lean County,  Jan.  9,  1837,  and  died  Jan.  7,  1909.  Mr.  Ogden  was  the  son 
of  Samuel  and  Nancy  (VanDolah)  Ogden. 

The  Ogden  family  are  of  English  descent  and  the  great-grandfather 
of  Albert  S.  Ogden,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  Albert  Ogden,  who 
settled  at  Albany,  N.  Y.,  before  the  Revolutionary  War.  Samuel  Ogden 
settled  in  McLean  County,  111.,  many  years  ago  and  was  among  the  earliest 
settlers  of  the  county.  He  came  from  Lincoln,  Ohio,  where  he  was  born. 
Mr.  Ogden  became  the  owner  of  900  acres  of  land,  which  he  entered  from 
the  government,  and  he  was  a  successful  stockman.  He  died  in  1892  at  the 
age  of  83  years  and  his  wife  died  July  8,  1884.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Samuel 
Ogden  had  10  children,  one  of  whom  is  now  living,  Alexander. 

Albert  S.  Ogden  spent  his  boyhood  on  the  home  place  and  received 
his  education  in  the  district  schools.  He  owned  260  acres  of  well-improved 
land  in  Money  Creek  Township  and  was  a  successful  stock  raiser.     The 


660  History  of  McLean  County 

Ogden  farm  is  now  operated  by  his  son,  Elmon  0.  Ogden,  who  is  widely- 
known  as  a  breeder  of  pure-bred  Shorthorn  cattle. 

On  March  8,  1860,  Mr.  Ogden  was  married  to  Miss  Sarah  C.  Pirtle, 
a  native  of  Owen  County,  Ind.,  born  July  21,  1843,  and  the  daughter  of 
Thomas  and  Elizabeth  (McKnott)  Pirtle,  early  settlers  of  McLean  County. 
Mrs.  Ogden  died  Feb.  14,  1893.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ogden  were  the  parents  of 
13  children,  10  of  whom  are  now  living,  as  follows:  Ora,  the  widow  of 
Enos  Trimmer,  lives  at  Towanda,  111. ;  Ella,  married  M.  J.  Trimmer,  a 
sketch  of  whom  appears  in  this  volume;  Elmon  0.,  farms  the  home  place; 
Stella,  married  Charles  Yoder,  lives  east  of  Bloomington;  Dorothy,  the 
widow  of  Elsworth  Van  Buskirk,  lives  at  403  West  Grove  Street,  Bloom- 
ington; Pearl,  lives  at  Des  Moines,  Iowa;  Nora,  married  James  W.  White, 
lives  at  Clear  Lake,  Iowa ;  Coral  married  Hary  H.  Fritz,  lives  on  the  home 
place ;  Ernest,  lives  in  Texas ;  and  Theresa,  the  widow  of  Elmer  Anderson, 
lives  at  Bloomington. 

Mr.  Ogden  had  been  a  Democrat  for  29  years  and  served  as  school 
director  for  12  years  and  also  as  highway  commissioner.  He  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Masonic  Lodge  No.  482.  Mr.  Ogden  was  highly  respected  and 
was  one  of  the  substantial  citizens  of  McLean  County. 


S.  P.  Livingston,  deceased,  was  a  native  of  Licking  County,  Ohio.  He 
was  born  Dec.  29,  1842,  and  died  July  13,  1921.  Mr.  Livingston  was  the 
son  of  Isaac  and  Sarah  (Wise)  Livingston,  natives  of  Pennsylvania,  and 
the  parents  of  11  children,  of  whom  S.  P.,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was 
the  fourth  in  order  of  birth.  Isaac  Livingston  moved  his  family  to  Mc- 
Lean County  in  1855,  where  he  followed  farming  until  the  time  of  his 
death.    His  wife  died  at  Pontiac,  111. 

S.  P.  Livingston  grew  up  on  his  father's  farm  and  attended  the  Hud- 
son district  schools.  He  rented  land  until  1875,  at  which  time  he  pur- 
chased 60  acres  in  Hudson  and  Gridley  townships.  Mr.  Livingston  be- 
came a  prominent  farmer  and  at  the  time  of  his  death  owned  190  acres 
of  land.  In  1911  he  retired  and  moved  to  Hudson,  111.,  where  he  owned 
a  considerable  amount  of  town  property. 

On  March  26,  1863,  Mr.  Livingston  was  married  to  Miss  Arminta 
Moore,  a  native  of  Livingston  County,  111.,  born  Feb.  12,  1844,  and  the 
daughter  of  John  and  Margaret    (Popejoy)    Moore.     Mrs.   Livingston's 


History  of  McLean  County  661 

parents  died  when  she  was  six  years  old  and  she  was  reared  by  an  uncle 
and  aunt,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Isam  Moore.  She  was  educated  in  the  schools  of 
Fairbury  and  taught  school  for  several  years  before  her  marriage.  At 
that  time  the  school  term  lasted  three  months  each  year  and  she  received 
$12.00  per  month  and  board.  To  S.  P.  and  Arminta  (Moore)  Livingston 
10  children  were  born,  only  one  of  whom  is  now  living,  Araminta  E.,  mar- 
ried Burt  Stephens,  lives  on  a  farm  near  Normal,  111.,  and  they  have  the 
following  children :     Sterling  R. ;  Dwight  B. ;  and  Avery  L.  Stephens. 

Mr.  Livingston  was  a  Democrat  and  served  as  constable  of  Hudson 
for  a  time.  He  belonged  to  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows.  Mr. 
Livingston  was  a  man  of  integrity  and  strong  business  acumen,  a  be- 
liever in  progressive  methods  in  his  work,  and  always  ready  to  support  the 
best  interests  of  his  community. 


William  Thomas  Carman  Burtis,  deceased,  was  a  leading  farmer  of 
Hudson  Township  for  many  years,  and  a  member  of  a  prominent  pioneer 
family  of  McLean  County.  He  was  born  at  Hudson,  111.,  Nov.  16,  1844, 
the  son  of  Edwin  E.  and  Sarah  Ann  (Lewis)  Burtis. 

Edwin  E.  Burtis  was  born  in  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  and  was  the  son  of 
Jacob  Hicks  and  Eliza  (Carman)  Burtis.  Jacob  Hicks  Burtis  was  born 
in  Queens  County,  N.  Y.,  Nov.  18,  1796,  and  at  the  age  of  18  years  he  set- 
tled in  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  where  he  learned  the  carving  business  and  the 
cabinet  making  trade.  In  the  War  of  1812  he  enlisted  for  service  from 
New  York  City  and  was  made  a  captain,  but  was  never  called  into  active 
service.  Mr.  Burtis  was  married  on  Feb.  5,  1821,  to  Miss  Eliza  Carman, 
who  died  in  1832,  leaving  four  children.  In  1835  Jacob  Hicks  Burtis  was 
married  the  second  time  to  Miss  Mary  Weeks  and  five  children  were  born 
to  this  union.  During  the  year  of  1835  Mr.  Burtis  started  west  with  his 
family,  stopping  at  Jackson  and  Alton,  111.,  and  they  did  not  come  to  Hud- 
son, 111.,  until  Dec.  1,  1836.  The  Burtis  family  was  one  of  the  first  fami- 
lies to  settle  in  this  community  and  during  their  first  winter  lived  with 
James  T.  Gildersleeve  and  family.  Mr.  Burtis  purchased  160  acres  of 
land  in  the  Hudson  colony  and  began  farming  in  1837.  He  died  June  16, 
1873.  Mr.  Burtis  was  baptized  in  the  Episcopal  Church  but  was  not  a 
member  of  any  church.  He  was,  however,  a  Christian,  and  a  highly  re- 
spected pioneer  of  McLean  County. 


662  History  of  McLean  County 

Edwin  E.  Burtis,  father  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  came  to  Mc- 
Lean County  with  his  father  when  he  was  a  boy  and  became  a  successful 
farmer,  operating  the  original  homestead  in  Hudson  Township. 

William  Thomas  Carman  Burtis  lived  on  the  same  farm  during  his 
entire  life  and  was  a  successful  and  widely  known  stockman.  He  special- 
ized in  the  breeding  of  pure-bred  Poland  China  hogs  and  Shorthorn  cattle 
and  was  also  a  shipper  of  stock.    Mr.  Burtis  died  Aug.  2,  1902. 

On  Nov.  5,  1878,  Mr.  Burtis  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Leah 
Jane  Ambrose,  a  native  of  Hudson,  111.,  born  Nov.  18,  1856,  and  the  daugh- 
ter of  James  and  Amelia  (Hedges)  Ambrose,  natives  of  England.  The 
Ambrose  family  came  to  the  United  States  in  1850  and  settled  in  Brook- 
lyn, N.  Y.,  and  two  years  later  moved  to  Hudson,  111.,  where  Mr.  Ambrose 
was  employed  at  the  carpenter  trade.  He  also  followed  general  farming 
and  owned  160  acres  of  land.  To  William  Thomas  Carman  and  Leah 
Jane  (Ambrose)  Burtis  seven  children  were  born,  five  of  whom  are  now 
living,  as  follows:  Altha,  married  Fred  Musgrove,  lives  at  Chicago;  Ce- 
cel,  married  G.  E.  Myers,  lives  at  Normal,  111. ;  Ralph  W.,  lives  at  Defiance, 
Ohio;  Floss,  lives  in  Defiance,  Ohio,  and  is  a  trained  nurse;  and  Parker 
lives  on  the  home  place  with  his  mother.  Mrs.  Burtis  has  two  grandchil- 
dren :   Mary  Ellen  Myers  and  Joanna  Lou  Burtis. 

Mr.  Burtis  was  a  Republican  and  attended  the  Methodist  Church.  He 
was  a  man  of  energy,  strong  purpose  and  industry.  In  his  business  af- 
fairs he  was  ever  upright  and  fair,  and  in  his  work  as  a  citizen  he  was 
the  upholder  of  high  standards. 


Edward  Curtis  Mahan  is  an  enterprising  and  successful  farmer  of 
Money  Creek  Township,  where  he  operates  330  acres  of  good  farm  land. 
He  was  born  at  Lexington,  111.,  Nov.  19,  1883,  the  son  of  William  Robert 
and  Emma  Jane  (Strausbaugh)  Mahan. 

William  Robert  Mahan  was  born  at  Lexington,  111.,  and  his  wife  is  a 
native  of  Decatur,  111.  They  now  live  at  Lexington,  where  Mr.  Mahan 
conducts  a  hardware  and  implement  business.  They  have  three  children, 
as  follows:  Clara  Irene,  married  C.  P.  Scroggin,  lives  at  Chicago;  Ed- 
ward Curtis,  the  subject  of  this  sketch ;  and  Douglass  S.,  at  home. 

Edward  Curtis  Mahan  received  his  education  in  the  public  schools  of 
Lexington  and  in  1901  began  farming  the  J.  N.  Franklin  farm.     Two 


History  of  McLean  County  663 

years  later  he  farmed  his  father's  land  in  Money  Creek  Township  and  in 
1917  purchased  86  acres  of  land  in  the  same  township.  Mr.  Mahan 
raises  a  good  grade  of  stock  and  during  the  World  War  was  an  extensive 
feeder  of  cattle. 

On  Feb.  20,  1908,  Mr.  Mahan  was  married  to  Miss  Bertha  Douglass, 
a  native  of  McLean  County  and  the  daughter  of  James  and  Mary  S.  (Paul) 
Douglass,  a  sketch  of  whom  also  appears  in  this  work.  Before  her  mar- 
riage, Mrs.  Mahan  taught  school  for  five  years.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Edward 
Curtis  Mahan  one  child  has  been  born,  Oma  C,  at  home. 

Mr.  Mahan  has  served  as  township  assessor  of  Money  Creek  Town- 
ship since  1918  and  he  is  also  a  member  of  the  Community  School  Board 
of  Lexington.  He  is  a  Republican  and  is  one  of  the  progressive  and  sub- 
stantial citizens  of  McLean  County. 


William  Humphries  is  a  prominent  farmer  and  stockman  of  Hudson 
Township  and  the  owner  of  400  acres  of  well  improved  land.  He  was  born 
at  Hudson,  111.,  March  19,  1858,  and  is  the  son  of  Thomas  and  Jane  (Am- 
brose) Humphries. 

Thomas  Humphries  was  a  native  of  England,  born  March  6,  1826, 
and  his  wife  was  also  born  in  England,  March  3,  1826.  In  1852  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Humphries  came  to  this  country  and  lived  in  New  York  until  1856, 
when  they  moved  to  Hudson,  111.,  where  Mr.  Humphries  worked  at  the 
carpenter  trade.  Ten  years  later  he  purchased  160  acres  of  land  in  Hud- 
son Township,  which  he  farmed  until  the  time  of  his  death,  July  7,  1876. 
His  wife  died  in  January,  1911.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Humphries  had  four  chil- 
dren, two  of  whom  are  now  living:  W.  J.,  lives  at  Des  Moines,  Iowa;  and 
William,  the  subject  of  this  sketch.    Two  daughters  died  in  infancy. 

William  Humphries  was  reared  on  his  father's  farm  and  attended 
the  Hudson  Township  district  schools.  He  has  always  followed  farming 
and  has  lived  on  his  present  farm  in  Hudson  Township  since  1877.  The 
land  was  owned  by  his  father,  who  was  about  to  build  a  home  on  it  at  the 
time  of  his  death.  Mr.  Humphries  and  his  mother  then  built  it.  The 
Humphries  farm  has  been  owned  by  only  three  parties  since  the  land 
was  entered  from  the  government.  Mr.  Humphries  has  good  buildings 
and  good  equipment  on  his  farm  and  he  is  known  as  a  breeder  of  pure- 
bred stock. 


664  History  of  McLean  County 

On  Oct.  25,  1882,  Mr.  Humphries  was  married  to  Miss  Charlotte 
Parker,  a  native  of  Castleton,  Vt.,  born  Feb.  5,  1861,  and  the  daughter 
of  Jehiel  and  Paulina  (Pond)  Parker,  natives  of  Vermont.  In  1865  the 
Parkers  came  to  Illinois  and  settled  at  Gardner,  where  Mr.  Parker  died. 
His  widow  now  resides  at  Calumet,  Mich.  Mrs.  Humphries  was  educated 
in  the  public  and  high  schools  at  Gardner,  and  attended  Illinois  State 
Normal  University  at  Normal,  111.,  where  she  met  Mr.  Humphries.  Be- 
fore her  marriage  she  taught  school  for  several  years.  To  William  and 
Charlotte  (Parker)  Humphries  seven  children  have  been  born,  as  follows: 
Bert  P.,  at  home;  John  W.,  a  farmer,  lives  in  Hudson  Township;  Edward, 
a  farmer,  lives  in  Hudson  Township;  Mary,  married  Loren  Miller,  lives  at 
Marinette,  Wis.;  Dr.  Paul  A.,  a  physician,  Towanda,  111.;  Kate,  deceased; 
and  Fred,  at  home. 

Mr.  Humphries  is  a  Republican  and  has  always  taken  a  keen  interest 
in  politics,  although  he  has  never  aspired  for  any  office.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  Baptist  Church  and  belongs  to  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America 
and  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows.  Mr.  Humphries  is  well  and 
favorably  known  in  McLean  County  and  takes  an  active  interest  in  the 
affairs  of  his  community. 


Joseph  B.  McNaught,  deceased,  was  one  of  McLean  County's  success- 
ful farmers.  He  was  born  near  Spencer,  Ind.,  Dec.  27,  1822,  and  died 
Sept.  21,  1866. 

Mr.  McNaught  came  to  McLean  County  when  he  was  a  young  man 
and  was  among  the  first  settlers  of  the  county.  He  worked  making  fence 
rails  for  25  cents  per  hundred.  After  several  years  Mr.  McNaught  re- 
turned to  Indiana  and  was  married  to  Miss  Agnes  Scott,  a  native  of 
Indiana,  born  March  17,  1828.  To  this  union  10  children  were  born, 
seven  of  whom  are  now  living,  and  Mrs.  Sarah  E.  McNemar  is  the  only 
one  living  in  McLean  County.  Mrs.  Joseph  B.  McNaught  died  Feb.  24, 
1907. 

Sarah  E.  (McNaught)  McNemar  was.  born  in  Gridley  Township, 
Jan.  30,  1848,  and  she  was  the  oldest  child  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Joseph  B. 
McNaught.  She  was  married  in  1864  to  Joseph  B.  Carter,  a  prominent 
farmer  of  McLean  County.  He  died  on  June  29,  1879,  at  the  age  of  35 
years.     To  this  union  four  children  were  born  as  follows:  Etta,  married 


SARAH   E.    McNEAIAl: 


History  of  McLean  County  665 

Henry  Gonder,  lives  at  Rippey,  Iowa,  and  they  have  six  daughters  and 
one  son:  Joseph  B.,  lives  at  St.  Edwards,  Nebr.,  and  he  has  eight  chil- 
dren; Lennie  M.,  married  Alma  Wick,  lives  at  Lexington,  and  they  have 
one  daughter;  Mabel,  married  Sherman  Foster,  and  they  have  two  daugh- 
ters and  one  son.  Mrs.  Carter  was  later  married  to  William  Stewart,  also 
deceased,  and  she  was  married  the  third  time  to  C.  J.  W.  McNemar,  who 
died  Feb.  10,  1920.  Mrs.  McNemar  has  nine  grandchildren  and  22  great 
grandchildren.  She  lives  at  Lexington  and  owns  200  acres  of  well  im- 
proved land  in  Money  Creek  Township,  McLean  County.  She  is  a  member 
of  the  Methodist  Church  and  belongs  to  the  Rebecca  lodge.  Mrs.  McNemar 
is  one  of  the  interesting  pioneer  women  of  McLean  County  and  grew  to 
womanhood  among  the  wild  game  of  the  prairies. 

Joseph  B.  Mc&faught  was  a  highly  respected  citizen  of  McLean 
County.  He  was  industrious,  earnest  and  sincere,  and  merited  the  high 
regard  in  which  he  was  held  by  the  community. 


Edward  Ambrose,  deceased,  was  a  prominent  citizen  of  McLean 
County  for  many  years.  He  was  born  at  Hudson,  111.,  March  7,  1862,  and 
was  the  son  of  James  and  Amelia  (Hedges)  Ambrose. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  James  Ambrose  were  natives  of  Chilton,  England,  and 
came  to  this  country  in  1850.  In  the  spring  of  1873  Mr.  Ambrose  pur- 
chased a  farm  in  Hudson  Township,  which  was  later  owned  and  operated 
by  his  son,  Edward,  the  subject  of  this  sketch.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  James 
Ambrose  had  six  children,  of  whom  Edward  was  the  fourth  in  order 
of  birth. 

Edward  Ambrose  was  reared  on  the  farm  and  received  his  education 
in  the  district  schools.  He  lived  in  Hudson  Township  during  his  entire 
life  and  became  a  leading  farmer  and  stockman.     He  died  July  17,  1911. 

On  March  25,  1890,  Mr.  Ambrose  was  married  to  Miss  Rebecca  Bishop, 
a  native  of  Money  Creek  Township,  McLean  County,  born  Jan.  20,  1865, 
and  the  daughter  of  Pleasant  W.  and  Amelia  (Timmons)  Bishop,  natives 
of  Indiana.  In  1836  the  Bishop  family  moved  to  McLean  County.  Pleas- 
ant W.  Bishop  was  the  son  of  William  G.  and  Rebecca  (Briggs)  Bishop,  na- 
tives of  South  Carolina.  Pleasant  W.  Bishop  followed  farming  during 
his  life  and  was  a  minister  of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church.  He 
served  throughout  the  Civil  War  in  the  94th  Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry 


666  History  of  McLean  County 

and  was  a  chaplain  in  the  37th  Regiment.  Mr.  Bishop  died  at  Gilbert, 
Iowa,  Jan.  31,  1918,  and  his  wife  died  July  19,  1886.  She  was  a  native  of 
Ohio  and  the  daughter  of  Henry  B.  and  Celia  (Briley)  Timmons,  the  for- 
mer a  native  of  Maryland  and  the  latter  of  Ohio.  John  Briley,  great- 
grandfather of  Mrs.  Ambrose,  was  a  native  of  Ireland  and  after  coming 
to  the  United  States  served  throughout  the  Revolutionary  War.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Pleasant  W.  Bishop  had  seven  children,  two  of  whom  now  live  in 
McLean  County:  Charles  F.,  a  policeman  at  Bloomington;  and  Mrs. 
Ambrose. 

To  Edward  and  Rebecca  (Bishop)  Ambrose  six  children  were  born, 
as  follows:  James  B.,  a  veteran  of  the  World  War,  lives  on  part  of  the 
home  place  and  is  married  to  Miss  Margaret  Crichton,  and  they  have  one 
child,  James;  Ruth,  attends  Chicago  University;  Ellen,  married  Leslie  A. 
White,  lives  at  Miami,  Fla. ;  Bernard  B.,  at  home;  Lois,  teaches  in  the  pub- 
lic schools  at  LeRoy,  111. ;  and  Stephen,  at  home. 

Mrs.  Edward  Ambrose  has  made  many  improvements  on  the  farm 
since  the  death  of  her  husband  and  erected  a  fine  modern  brick  residence, 
which  is  located  two  and  one-half  miles  northeast  of  Hudson.  She  owns 
240  acres  of  land. 

Edward  Ambrose  was  a  Republican,  a  member  of  the  Baptist  Church, 
and  belonged  to  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows  and  the  Modern 
Woodmen  of  America.  In  all  the  phases  of  his  life,  Mr.  Ambrose  was 
industrious,  earnest  and  sincere.  He  merited  the  high  regard  in  which 
he  was  held  by  the  community. 


James  Wilson,  deceased,  was  a  successful  farmer  and  stockman  of 
Hudson  Township  and  a  widely  known  citizen  of  McLean  County.  He 
was  born  in  Ireland,  Feb.  16,  1846,  the  son  of  John  and  Mary  (Greer) 
Wilson. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  John  Wilson  were  natives  of  Ireland,  where  they  spent 
their  entire  lives.  They  were  the  parents  of  seven  children,  one  of  whom 
is  now  living,  Mary,  who  lives  on  the  old  homestead  in  Ireland. 

James  Wilson,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  came  to  this  country  in 
1875  and  for  a  short  time  lived  in  Connecticut,  after  which  he  came  to 
McLean  County.  He  was  employed  on  the  farm  of  his  uncle,  James  Greer, 
in  Hudson  Township  for  eight  years  and  later  rented  land  from  his  uncle 
for  five  years.    Mr.  Wilson  purchased  the  farm  he  had  been  renting,  which 


History  of  McLean  County  667 

is  located  three  and  one-half  miles  northeast  of  Hudson,  and  now  owned 
by  his  widow.  Mr.  Wilson  was  a  breeder  of  good  stock  and  specialized 
in  the  breeding  of  Poland  China  hogs  and  Norman  horses.  He  died  May 
15,  1912. 

On  April  2,  1874,  Mr.  Wilson  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Mar- 
tha Workman,  a  native  of  Ireland,  born  Oct.  29,  1848,  and  the  daughter 
of  Ezekiel  and  Martha  (Sands)  Workman,  the  former  a  native  of  Scot- 
land and  the  latter  of  England.  To  James  and  Martha  (Workman)  Wil- 
son two  children  were  born,  as  follows:  Julia,  married  Ed  Hamm,  a 
farmer,  lives  in  Hudson  Township;  and  Ida,  married  William  Humphries, 
a  farmer,  lives  in  Hudson  Township. 

Mrs.  Wilson  now  lives  at  Hudson  and  still  owns  the  homestead  in 
Hudson  Township,  which  contains  264  acres  of  good  farm  land.  She  is  a 
member  of  the  Methodist  Church  and  has  a  wide  circle  of  friends  in  Mc- 
Lean County. 

In  politics  James  Wilson  was  a  Republican  and  he  was  a  member  of 
the  Methodist  Church,  and  held,  many  offices  in  his  church.  He  was  a 
stockholder  of  the  Hudson  Elevator.  Mr.  Wilson  was  a  man  of  energy 
and  in  his  business  affairs  was  ever  upright  and  fair. 


Charles  Moncelle,  deceased,  was  a  .leading  farmer  of  Woodford 
County.  He  was  born  in  Alsace-Lorraine,  Dec.  28,  1853,  the  son  of  John 
and  Marguerite  Celestine  (Verrion)  Moncelle. 

John  Moncelle  left  his  home  in  France  in  1855  and  came  to  the  United 
States,  settling  near  Metamora,  111.,  where  he  was  employed  at  his  trade 
as  blacksmith.  After  a  short  time  he  sent  for  his  family  in  France  and 
after  their  arrival  in  Illinois  they  lived  at  Versailles  where  his  wife  died, 
and  Mr.  Moncelle  died  at  Peoria,  111.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  John  Moncelle  had 
eight  children,  six  of  whom  are  now  living. 

Charles  Moncelle  was  three  years  old  when  he  was  brought  to  this 
country  and  he  was  reared  and  educated  at  Versailles,  111.  After  finish- 
ing his  school  work,  he  learned  the  blacksmith  trade  with  his  father, 
which  he  followed  until  his  marriage  in  1882.  Mr.  Moncelle  then  engaged 
in  general  farming  and  stock  raising  in  Woodford  County,  III,  where  h? 
rented  land.  Later  he  purchased  160  acres  of  land,  which  was  part  of  the 
Henry  Grove  farm.  Mr.  Moncelle  sold  this  farm  in  1906  and  the  follow- 
ing year  purchased  240  acres  of  well-improved  land  in  McLean  County. 


668  History  of  McLean  County 

in  Lawndale  Township.  He  died  before  moving  to  the  new  home,  on  Feb. 
18,  1907.  Mrs.  Moncelle  moved  her  family  to  the  new  location  the  fol- 
lowing year,  where  they  lived  until  1913.  She  now  resides  at  Lexington 
but  still  owns  the  home  place  as  well  as  city  property. 

On  Dec.  26,  1882,  Mr.  Moncelle  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Emma  Grove,  a  native  of  Woodford  County,  111.,  born  Nov.  21,  1861,  and 
the  daughter  of  Abraham  and  Caroline  (Niergarth)  Grove.  The  Grove 
family  originally  came  to  Illinois  from  Virginia  and  the  Niergarth  family 
from  Switzerland.  To  Charles  and  Emma  (Grove)  Moncelle  four  children 
were  born,  as  follows:  Earl,  a  farmer,  lives  in  Lexington  Township; 
Rudy,  lives  in  Lawndale  Township;  Charles  LeRoy,  a  farmer,  lives  in 
Lawndale  Township;  and  Caroline,  married  Leslie  Brooks,  a  farmer,  lives 
in  Money  Creek  Township. 

Mr.  Moncelle  was  a  Democrat.  He  was  a  substantial  citizen  and 
widely  known. 


Edgar  Sager,  deceased,  was  a  prosperous  farmer  and  stockman  of 
Hudson  Township  and  the  owner  of  250  acres  of  land.  He  was  born  a': 
Barton,  Tioga  County,  N.  Y.,  Feb.  15,  1846,  the  son  of  John  and  Phoebe 
(Meeker)  Sager. 

The  Sager  family  came  to  Illinois  from  New  York  during  the  early 
days.  They  made  the  trip  to  Buffalo  by  boat  and  from  there  to  Detroit, 
Mich.,  came  by  horse  and  wagon.  On  June  17,  1846,  they  arrived  in  Ste- 
phenson County,  111.,  where  John  Sager  farmed  until  1864,  at  which  time 
they  moved  to  McLean  County  and  settled  on  the  present  Sager  farm  in 
Hudson  Township.  Mr.  Sager  purchased  40  acres  of  land,  which  was  all 
timber,  and  he  became  a  leading  farmer  of  the  county.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Sager,  who  died  at  Hudson,  111.,  were  the  parents  of  four  children. 

Edgar  Sager  received  his  education  in  the  district  schools  and  spent 
one  year  at  Illinois  State  Normal  University  at  Normal,  where  he  studied 
surveying.  He  then  was  employed  as  a  surveyor  for  the  Rock  Island  and 
St.  Louis  Railroad,  and  was  located  near  Sterling,  111.  In  1869  he  was 
called  home  by  the  illness  of  his  mother  and  then  taught  school  for  seven 
years.  Mr.  Sager  became  engaged  in  general  farming  and  stock  raising 
in  1877  on  the  home  place,  which  he  purchased  that  year.  He  made  many 
improvements  on  the  place  and  was  considered  a  leading  stockman  of 
the  county.    Mr.  Sager  died  Oct.  21,  1923. 


History  of  McLean  County  669 

In  March,  1878,  Mr.  Sager  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Amanda 
Fincham,  a  native  of  Towanda,  111.,  born  May  18,  1858,  and  the  daughter 
of  Alexander  and  Mary  Jane  (Busick)  Fincham.  To  Edgar  and  Amanda 
(Fincham)  Sager  four  children  have  been  born,  as  follows:  Maude,  mar- 
ried George  Naggle,  lives  near  LeRoy,  111. ;  Blanche,  married  Leo  Stuckey, 
lives  at  Perkins,  Mo. ;  Carl,  lives  at  Chillicothe,  111. ;  and  Lyle,  married 
Lacy  Brown,  lives  at  home. 

Edgar  Sager  was  an  independent  voter  and  held  many  township  and 
county  offices,  such  as  township  school  trustee,  which  office  he  had  held 
for  30  years.  Mr.  Sager  contributed  to  all  churches,  particularly  the 
Methodist  Church,  of  which  his  wife  is  a  member.  Mr.  Sager  was  a  re- 
liable and  efficient  member  of  the  community  and  had  the  esteem  of  his 
fellow  citizens. 


Hiram  Havens,  deceased,  was  one  of  the  honored  pioneer  settlers  of 
McLean  County.  He  was  born  in  Licking  County,  Ohio,  March  29,  1817, 
the  son  of  Jesse  and  Margaret  (Hinthorn)  Havens. 

Jesse  Havens  was  a  native  of  Monmouth  County,  N.  J.,  and  the  son 
of  Jesse  Havens,  Sr.,  who  was  killed  during  the  War  of  1812  when  the 
vessel,  Essix,  was  sunk  and  the  entire  crew  massacred.  Jesse  Havens, 
Jr.,  father  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  brought  his  family  from  Ohio 
to  McLean  County,  111.,  on  Dec.  31,  1829,  making  the  trip  in  covered 
wagons.  They  settled  on  land  in  Hudson  Township,  and  Mr.  Havens  be- 
came the  owner  of  2,000  acres  of  land,  which  is  known  now  as  Havens 
Grove.  He  served  in  the  War  of  1812  and  was  one  of  160  men  who  took 
part  in  the  defense  of  Fort  Stephenson.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jesse  Havens  had 
11  children,  of  whom  Hiram,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  the  second 
in  order  of  birth. 

Hiram  Havens  was  reared  on  the  farm  in  Hudson  Township,  where 
he  spent  his  entire  life.  He  was  12  years  old  when  his  people  came  to 
McLean  County  and  at  that  time  Indians  were  still  living  in  the  county. 
The  homestead  in  Hudson  Township  is  known  as  "Havenhurst"  and  it  has 
been  in  the  Havens  family  about  100  years.  Hiram  Havens  was  greatly 
interested  in  the  study  of  law  and  at  the  time  of  his  death  owned  300 
volumes  of  law  books.  He  became  a  counselor  and  also  served  as  justice 
of  the  peace  for  many  years,  and  was  always  proud  of  the  fact  that  in  his 


670  History  of  McLean  County 

40  years  of  service  in  that  capacity,  none  of  his  decisions  were  reversed 
in  higher  courts.    Mr.  Havens  died  Oct.  13,  1890. 

On  April  5,  1838,  Hiram  Havens  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Sarah  Ann  Trimmer,  a  native  of  Hunterdon  County,  N.  J.,  born  Feb.  4, 
1821,  and  the  daughter  of  John  and  Elizabeth  (Lanterman)  Trimmer, 
the  former  a  native  of  Hunterdon  County,  N.  J.,  and  the  latter  of  Ger- 
many. To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Havens  five  children  were  born,  of  whom  only 
one  is  now  living,  Mrs.  Etta  Carrithers. 

Mrs.  Etta  Carrithers  was  born  on  the  home  place  in  Hudson  Town- 
ship, and  on  March  1,  1863,  was  married  to  Fred  A.  Carrithers,  a  native 
of  Marshall  County,  111.,  born  June  20,  1858,  and  the  son  of  Rev.  William 
P.  and  Mary  (Barnes)  Carrithers,  natives  of  Indiana.  Mr.  Carrithers  is 
depot  agent  for  the  Illinois  Central  Railroad  at  Hudson  and  he  and  his 
wife  reside  on  the  old  Havens  homestead,  "Havenhurst".  They  have  one 
son,  Henry  Carrithers. 

Mrs.  Carrithers  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  and  attended  Illi- 
nois State  Normal  University  at  Normal.  She  is  a  member  of  the  Daugh- 
ters of  the  American  Revolution  and  is  now  the  fifth  vice-president  of 
the  United  States  Daughters  of  the  War  of  1812.  During  the  World  War 
Mrs.  Carrithers  was  chairman  of  home  service  and  devoted  her  entire 
time  to  war  work.  She  is  a  member  of  the  McLean  County  Historical  So- 
ciety and  held  the  vice-presidency  for  two  years.  She  has  in  her  posses- 
sion some  interesting  history  in  connection  with  the  Havens  family  and 
has  traced  it  back  as  far  as  the  year  800.  The  Havens  family  originally 
came  from  France  and  Mrs.  Carrithers  has  a  metal  painting  coat  of  arms 
of  the  family. 

In  politics  Hiram  Havens  was  originally  a  Whig  and  later  a  Repub- 
lican. He  was  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Church.  Mr.  Havens  was  a 
prominent  man  of  the  community,  highly  esteemed  by  all  who  knew  him. 


Frank  Messer,  a  successful  farmer  and  stockman  of  Money  Creek 
Township  and  the  owner  of  188  acres  of  land,  is  a  native  of  McLean 
County.  He  was  born  on  a  farm  in  Gridley  Township,  Nov.  25,  1873,  the 
son  of  John  P.  and  Elizabeth  Jane  (Dawson)  Messer. 

John  P.  Messer  was  born  in  McLean  County  in  1834  and  died  in  July, 
1897.  He  was  a  widely  known  farmer  during  his  life  and  a  substantial 
and  highly  respected  citizen  of  McLean  County.     His  wife,  a  native  of 


History  of  McLean  County  671 

Ohio,  now  resides  at  Lexington,  111.  They  were  the  parents  of  six  chil- 
dren, of  whom  Frank,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  is  the  third  in  order  of 
birth. 

Frank  Messer  spent  hjs  boyhood  on  his  father's  farm  and  attended 
the  public  schools  of  Gridley  Township.  He  rented  land  for  a  number  of 
years  and  in  1911  purchased  his  present  farm  in  Money  Creek  Township. 
Mr.  Messer  has  made  many  improvements  on  the  place  and  is  well  known 
as  a  breeder  of  pure  bred  Shorthorn  cattle. 

On  Sept.  6,  1903,  Mr.  Messer  was  married  to  Miss  Clarene  Flesher, 
a  native  of  Lexington  Township,  McLean  County,  and  the  daughter  of 
Alonzo  and  Hattie  (Dury)  Flesher,  natives  of  Illinois.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Messer  have  one  child,  Lowell,  born  Aug.  13,  1904. 

Frank  Messer  is  an  independent  voter  and  an  active  member  of  the 
Christian  Church.  He  is  a  substantial  citizen  who  has  built  up  a  success- 
ful farming  business  by  his  integrity  and  progressive  methods. 


M.  L.  Ramseyer,  now  living  retired  on  his  farm  in  Hudson  Town- 
ship, has  been  a  leading  farmer  and  stockman  of  McLean  County  for  many 
years.  He  was  born  at  Canton,  Neuchatel,  Switzerland,  Jan.  3,  1864,  the 
son  of  John  and  Anna  (Ummel)  Ramseyer. 

John  Ramseyer  brought  his  family  to  the  United  States  from  Swit- 
zerland in  1874  and  located  in  Butler  County,  Ohio,  where  they  remained 
until  1877.  At  that  time  they  came  to  McLean  County,  where  Mr.  Ram- 
seyer followed  farming  north  of  Danvers.  He  died  in  1882  at  the  age  of 
46  years  and  his  wife  died  about  20  years  ago.  They  were  the  parents 
of  nine  children,  as  follows:  M.  L.,  the  subject  of  this  sketch;  Anna, 
married  Valentine  Birky,  lives  at  Bloomington,  111. ;  Susan,  married  R.  K. 
Rader,  lives  in  White  Oak  Township,  McLean  County;  John,  lives  at  Pu- 
laski, Iowa ;  Rosa,  lives  at  Bloomington,  111. ;  Mary,  married  Peter  Tschantz, 
lives  at  Pulaski,  Iowa;  C.  W.,  congressman  from  the  6th  District  of  Iowa, 
and  he  lives  at  Bloomfield,  Iowa;  Lina,  married  D.  L.  Widmer,  lives  at 
Pulaski,  Iowa;  and  S.  F.,  lives  at  Pulaski,  Iowa. 

M.  L.  Ramseyer  grew  up  on  the  farm  and  received  his  education  in 
the  district  schools.  He  was  employed  as  a  farm  hand  for  10  years,  and 
received  $4.00  per  month  for  the  first  year.  Mr.  Ramseyer  rented  land 
in  Dry  Grove  Township,  McLean  County,  from  1884  until  1901,  at  which 
time  he  purchased  his  present  farm  of  250  acres  in  Hudson  Township. 


672  History  of  McLean  County 

For  many  years  Mr.  Ramseyer  was  successful  as  a  breeder  of  Percheron 
horses  and  for  the  past  several  years  pure  bred  Shorthorn  cattle,  and  he 
now  lives  retired. 

In  1888  Mr.  Ramseyer  was  married  to  Miss  Louisa  Risser,  a  native 
of  Tazewell  County,  111.,  born  in  1866.  She  died  June  19,  1890,  leaving 
one  son,  Roy  A.,  an  attorney  at  Bloomington,  111.  Mrs.  Ramseyer  was  the 
daughter  of  Andrew  and  Mary  (Sweitzer)  Risser,  the  former  a  native  of 
France  and  the  latter  of  Illinois.  In  February,  1892,  Mr.  Ramseyer  was 
married  to  Miss  Anna  Stahly,  a  native  of  McLean  County,  born  Nov.  21, 
1866,  and  the  daughter  of  Rev.  John  and  Mary  Stahly,  natives  of  Switzer- 
land and  early  settlers  of  McLean  County.  To  M.  L.  and  Anna  (Stahly) 
Ramseyer  four  children  were  born,  as  follows:  Pearl  E.,  lives  in  Chi- 
cago; Ethel  V.,  a  nurse  in  the  Mennonite  Hospital  at  Bloomington,  111.; 
Lloyd,  attends  Bluffton  College,  Bluffton,  Ohio ;  and  Lyle  J.,  deceased. 

Mr.  Ramseyer  is  a  Republican  and  has  served  as  school  director  for 
21  years  in  Dry  Grove  and  Hudson  townships.  In  1914  he  was  elected 
county  supervisor  of  McLean  County,  which  office  he  held  for  four  years. 
Mr.  Ramseyer  is  a  member  of  the  Mennonite  Church.  The  Ramseyer  fam- 
ily are  substantial  and  influential  citizens  and  are  well  known  throughout 
the  county. 


William  H.  Edwards,  deceased,  was  a  prominent  citizen  of  McLean 
County  for  many  years.  He  was  born  at  Morristown,  N.  J.,  May  24,  1837, 
and  died  May  12,  1913.  Mr.  Edwards  was  the  son  of  Levi  and  Phoebe 
(Douglass)  Edwards. 

The  Edwards  family  settled  in  Licking  County,  Ohio,  many  years 
ago,  having  moved  there  from  New  Jersey.  Levi  Edwards  and  family 
moved  to  Knox  County,  Ohio,  where  he  followed  his  trade  as  blacksmith. 
They  were  the  parents  of  nine  children,  all  of  whom  are  deceased  except 
a  daughter,  Mrs.  Laura  LaFever,  who  lives  in  Ohio. 

William  H.  Edwards  received  his  education  in  the  district  schools 
and  was  a  blacksmith  by  trade,  although  in  later  life  he  engaged  in  gen- 
eral farming  and  stock  raising.  He  came  to  McLean  County  in  1864  and 
rented  a  farm  two  miles  east  of  Lexington,  where  he  remained  for  four 
years.  Mr.  Edwards  then  purchased  40  acres  of  land  in  Lexington  Town- 
ship and  after  adding  to  his  land  holdings  he  became  the  owner  of  360 


MR.   AND   MRS.   WII.LTAM    !  f.    EDWARDS. 


History  of  McLean  County  673 

acres  of  well  improved  land.  In  1905  he  moved  to  Lexington,  where  he 
lived  retired  until  the  time  of  his  death  in  1913. 

On  Oct.  26,  1864,  Mr.  Edwards  was  married  to  Miss  Eliza  J.  Guy,  a 
native  of  Washington  County,  Pa.,  born  Oct.  6,  1843,  and  the  daughter 
of  Joseph  and  Mary  J.  (Reed)  Guy.  The  Guy  family  went  from  Virginia 
to  Pennsylvania  and  later  to  Knox  County,  Ohio,  where  Mr.  Guy  engaged 
in  farming.  He  died  there  and  his  wife  died  at  Lexington,  111.,  June  3, 
1915.  They  were  the  parents  of  seven  children,  five  of  whom  now  live 
at  Lexington.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Edwards  had  two  children,  both  of  whom 
died  in  infancy. 

In  politics  William  H.  Edwards  was  a  Republican  and  he  cast  his 
first  vote  for  Abraham  Lincoln.  He  was  one  of  the  highly  respected  and 
dependable  citizens  of  his  township  and  county. 


William  Anderson,  an  enterprising  and  successful  farmer  of  Money 
Creek  Township,  is  the  owner  of  a  well  improved  farm,  and  a  member  of 
one  of  McLean  County's  prominent  pioneer  families.  He  was  born  in 
Hudson  Township,  Aug.  2,  1874,  the  son  of  Frank  M.  and  Isabelle  (Hin- 
thorn)  Anderson. 

Frank  M.  Anderson  was  born  in  Guernsey  County,  Ohio,  Feb.  1,  1849, 
and  came  to  McLean  County  when  he  was  21  years  of  age.  He  was  the  son 
of  Thomas  and  Elizabeth  (Milhorn)  Anderson,  natives  of  Ohio,  who  came 
to  McLean  County  in  1870  and  located  in  Hudson  Township.  Frank  M. 
Anderson  now  lives  retired  on  his  farm  in  Gridley  Township  and  his  wife 
died  in  1895.  They  were  the  parents  of  the  following  children:  William, 
the  subject  of  this  sketch;  Daniel  A.,  lives  in  Iowa;  Hattie,  married  Will- 
iam Messe,  lives  at  Breckenridge,  Minn. ;  John  C,  lives  in  Gridley  Town- 
ship, McLean  County;  Ina,  married  Herbert  Hall,  lives  in  Gridley  Town- 
ship; Samuel,  lives  in  Gridley  Township;  and  Ona,  married  Heny  Geiger, 
lives  in  Gridley  Township. 

William  Anderson  grew  to  manhood  on  his  father's  farm  and  attended 
the  district  schools.  He  worked  as  a  farm  hand  for  a  short  time  and  then 
rented  land  for  10  years  before  purchasing  his  present  farm  of  73  acres  in 
Money  Creek  Township.  He  farms  220  acres.  Mr.  Anderson  is  widely 
known  as  a  breeder  of  pure-bred  Spotted  Poland  China  hogs.  The  farm 
where  he  lives  is  well  improved  and  contains  good  buildings.  It  is  now 
owned  by  Mrs.  Sarah  E.  Kearfott. 
(41) 


674  History  of  McLean  County 

On  Jan.  14,  1897,  Mr.  Anderson  was  married  to  Miss  Leona  Kearfott, 
a  native  of  Money  Creek  Township,  born  Aug.  2,  1876,  the  daughter  of 
William  E.  and  Sarah  E.  (Coon)  Kearfott.  Mr.  Kearfott  was  a  prominent 
farmer  of  McLean  County  for  many  years,  having  come  here  from  Lick- 
ing County,  Ohio.  He  died  June  10,  1923,  and  his  widow  now  resides  at 
Normal,  111.  Mr.  Kearfott  formerly  owned  the  present  Anderson  farm. 
To  William  and  Leona  (Kearfott)  Anderson  two  children  have  been  born, 
as  follows:  Omer  L.,  at  home;  and  Erma,  married  George  Scarbeary,  a 
farmer,  lives  in  Hudson  Township,  McLean  County. 

Mr.  Anderson  is  a  Republican  and  a  member  of  the  Christian  Church. 
He  is  one  of  McLean  County's  dependable  and  progressive  citizens. 


Frank  Maple,  well  known  as  an  enterprising  farmer  and  stockman  of 
Hudson  Township,  and  the  owner  of  420  acres  of  land,  was  born  on  the 
farm  he  now  owns,  Oct.  23,  1861.  He  is  the  son  of  Sceaphes  and  Mar- 
garet (Hinthorn)  Maple. 

Sceaphes  Maple  was  a  native  of  Knox  County,  Ohio,  born  Oct.  12, 
1828.  He  came  to  McLean  County  before  the  Civil  War  and  settled  on 
land  in  Hudson  Township,  which  is  still  known  as  the  Maple  farm.  Mr. 
Maple  followed  general  farming  and  stock  raising  during  his  life  and  met 
with  success.  He  died  March  16,  1910,  and  his  wife  died  in  1890.  They 
were  the  parents  of  four  children,  as  follows :  William,  lives  in  California ; 
Frank,  the  subject  of  this  sketch;  James,  lives  at  Newman,  Calif.;  and 
a  daughter  died  in  infancy. 

Frank  Maple  has  always  been  a  farmer  and  is  widely  known  as  a 
breeder  of  pure  bred  stock.  He  attended  the  district  schools  and  then 
farmed  on  the  home  place,  and  now  owns  420  acres  of  land  in  Hudson 
Township.  Mr.  Maple  lives  at  Hudson,  111.  He  is  also  an  extensive  buyer 
and  shipper  of  stock. 

On  March  21,  1900,  Mr.  Maple  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Margaret  Piatt,  a  native  of  McLean  County,  born  in  1873,  and  the  daugh- 
ter of  Jesse  and  Jane  (Hinthorn)  Piatt,  a  sketch  of  whom  appears  in  this 
volume.  Mrs.  Maple  died  in  1915,  leaving  three  children,  as  follows: 
Florence,  Ellen  and  Etta,  all  at  home. 

Mr.  Maple  is  a  stockholder  in  The  Hudson  State  Bank  and  also  a  di- 
rector.   He  has  served  as  township  collector  of  Hudson  Township  for  two 


History  of  McLean  County  675 

terms  and  also  as  school  director  of  District  No.  202  in  Hudson  Town- 
ship. Mr.  Maple  is  a  Democrat  and  belongs  to  the  Independent  Order  of 
Odd  Fellows.  He  has  always  been  a  man  of  progressive  ideas,  and  he  is 
a  reliable  and  substantial  citizen. 


Victor  L.  Nickel,  the  competent  and  well  known  assistant  cashier  of 
The  State  Bank  at  Chenoa,  111.,  was  born  at  Chenoa,  March  29,  1885,  the 
son  of  Charles  and  Louisa  (LeDuc)  Nickel. 

Charles  Nickel  was  a  native  of  Germany  and  came  to  the  United 
States  in  1872.  He  settled  in  New  York  City,  where  he  remained  for  two 
years,  after  which  he  came  to  McLean  County,  111.,  and  engaged  in  the 
hardware  business  at  Chenoa.  Mr.  Nickel  was  president  of  The  State 
Bank  of  Chenoa  since  its  organization  in  1892  until  the  time  of  his  death 
in  1905.  He  was  a  Democrat,  a  member  of  the  Masonic  Lodge  and  be- 
longed to  the  Lutheran  Church.  Mrs.  Nickel  died  in  1921.  They  were 
the  parents  of  two  children,  Lillian,  school  teacher,  lives  at  home,  and 
Victor  L.,  the  subject  of  this  sketch. 

Victor  L.  Nickel  received  his  education  in  the  public  and  high  schools 
of  Chenoa  and  after  finishing  his  school  work  became  engaged  in  the 
banking  business  at  Chenoa.  He  started  as  bookkeeper  for  The  State 
Bank  and  is  now  assistant  cashier. 

In  June,  1911,  Mr.  Nickel  married  Miss  Grace  Hisoredt,  a  native  of 
Urbana,  111.,  born  in  1888,  and  the  daughter  of  Ward  and  Sarah  (Neu- 
hauser)  Hisoredt,  natives  of  Illinois.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hisoredt  now  live 
retired  at  Gridley,  111.  They  are  the  parents  of  four  children,  as  follows : 
Mrs.  Nickel;  Ethel,  the  wife  of  George  Niergarth,  lives  in  St.  Louis;  Mi- 
nerva, the  wife  of  Harry  Colmery,  lives  in  Topeka,  Kan. ;  and  Lucille, 
school  teacher,  lives  in  Akron,  Ohio.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Nickel  have  one  child, 
Lynn,  born  Feb.  7,  1913. 

Mr.  Nickel  is  president  of  the  local  board  of  education  and  is  super- 
visor. He  is  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  and  is  well  known 
in  McLean  County. 

The  State  Bank  of  Chenoa  was  organized  in  1892.  It  has  a  capital 
stock  of  $30,000.00  and  a  surplus  of  $30,000.00.  The  present  officers  of 
the  bank  are:  A.  D.  Jordan,  president;  L.  L.  Silliman,  cashier;  and  Vic- 
tor L.  Nickel,  assistant  cashier.     The  directors  are:     E.  M.  Pike,  R.  G. 


676  History  of  McLean  County 

Jordan,  Victor  L.  Nickel,  J.  E.  Wightman,  A.  D.  Jordan,  and  W.  D.  Castle. 
The  phenomenal  growth  of  The  State  Bank  of  Chenoa  is  due  in  no  small 
degree  to  co-operation,  and  the  stockholders  are  to  be  congratulated  upon 
having  such  competent  leaders  as  Mr.  Nickel. 


Dr.  Marcus  M.  Lord,  deceased,  was  a  veteran  of  the  Civil  War  and 
one  of  McLean  County's  most  highly  respected  citizens.  He  was  born  at 
Albany,  Franklin  County,  Vt.,  April  17,  1843,  the  son  of  Ebenezer  Kelly 
and  Jeanette  (Gregg)  Lord. 

Ebenezer  K.  Lord  was  born  in  New  Hampshire  and  when  a  young 
man  moved  to  Vermont,  where  he  owned  and  operated  a  starch  factory 
for  many  years.  He  later  went  to  Iowa,  bought  up  large  tracts 
of  land,  and  became  a  prominent  and  successful  business  man.  He  died 
in  1906  and  his  wife  died  in  1905.  They  are  buried  in  Vermont.  Mr. 
Lord  was  a  Republican  during  the  time  of  his  residence  in  Vermont,  but 
after  going  to  Iowa  he  became  a  staunch  Democrat.  He  was  a  member 
of  the  Baptist  Church  and  belonged  to  the  Masonic  Lodge.  To  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Ebenezer  K.  Lord  four  children  were  born,  as  follows:  Jeanette, 
married  Charles  Rowley,  both  deceased;  Dr.  Marcus  M.,  the  subject  of 
this  sketch;  Harriet,  married  Lorenzo  Miles,  now  lives  retired  in  Boston, 
Mass. ;  and  Ermina,  married  Frank  Simmons,  both  deceased. 

Dr.  Marcus  M.  Lord  spent  his  boyhood  in  Albany,  Vt.,  and  was  edu- 
cated in  the  public  schools  and  later  attended  a  medical  college  in  Pennsyl- 
vania. Dr.  Lord  practiced  medicine  in  Vermont  for  a  number  of  years 
and  later  went  to  Iowa,  where  he  was  among  the  pioneers  of  the  medical 
profession.  He  served  during  the  Civil  War  and  was  in  service  for  18 
months.  While  in  the  army  he  contracted  typhoid  fever  and  rheumatism, 
from  which  he  never  fully  recovered.  Dr.  Lord  came  to  Chenoa  in  1889, 
where  he  practiced  for  several  years  before  retiring.  He  died  March  20, 
1917,  and  is  buried  in  Chenoa. 

On  Aug.  4,  1867,  Dr.  Lord  was  married  to  Miss  Ida  I.  Butts,  a  native 
of  Stowe,  Vt.,  born  Jan.  5,  1849,  and  the  daughter  of  Prosper  and  Mary 
M.  (Luce)  Butts.  Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Butts  were  born  at  Stowe,  Vt,  and 
Mrs.  Butts  was  a  cousin  of  Governor  Cyrus  Luce  of  Michigan.  She  was 
born  April  18,  1821,  and  died  in  1908.  Mr.  Butts  died  in  1877.  They  had 
four  children,   as  follows:     L.    Porter,   Civil   War  veteran,   well   known 


History  of  McLean  County  677 

attorney  of  Vermont  and  now  lives  retired  at  North  Hyde  Park,  Vt. ; 
Mrs.  Lord;  Mary  A.,  school  teacher  for  many  years,  later  architect,  and 
now  retired  at  North  Hyde  Park,  Vt. ;  and  Jennie  A.,  married  Homer  L. 
Stearns,  now  retired,  Burlington,  Vt.  The  city  of  Stowe,  Vt.,  was  named 
after  Mrs.  Lord's  great  grandmother,  Mrs.  Hannah  Stowe,  a  prominent 
citizen  of  that  section.  To  Dr.  Marcus  M.  and  Ida  I.  (Butts)  Lord  two 
children  were  born,  as  follows:  Blanche  L.,  married  Frederick  Henry 
Ballinger,  druggist,  Chenoa;  and  Porter  Butts,  born  Jan.  2,  1881,  died 
Aug.  12,  1915.  Mrs.  Lord  has  two  grandchildren,  Gordon  H.  Lord,  born 
at  Bloomington,  111.,  Nov.  26,  1911;  and  Jean  Lucille  Van  Dolah  born 
July  31,  1922. 

Mrs.  Lord  taught  school  in  Vermont  before  her  marriage  and  has 
been  superintendent  of  the  Chenoa  City  Library  for  ten  years.  Dr.  Lord 
served  as  justice  of  the  peace  in  Iowa  and  also  as  postmaster  there.  He 
was  a  Democrat,  a  member  of  the  Congregational  Church,  and  belonged 
to  the  Masonic  Lodge  and  was  High  Priest,  also  the  Consistory.  He  took 
an  active  part  in  state  work  as  a  lecturer.  Dr.  Lord  was  an  excellent 
citizen  and  merited  the  high  regard  in  which  he  was  held  in  the  com- 
munity. 


James  E.  Jontry,  the  well  known  and  capable  postmaster  of  Chenoa, 
was  born  at  Chenoa,  Oct.  18,  1871,  the  son  of  John  Jacob  and  Mary  A. 
(Nickerson)  Jontry. 

John  Jacob  Jontry  was  a  native  of  Ohio  and  came  to  Illinois  during 
the  Civil  War.  He  settled  at  Chenoa  and  followed  his  trade  as  shoemaker 
for  many  years  and  died  Dec.  19,  1921.  His  wife,  a  native  of  Indiana,  is 
also  deceased.  Mr.  Jontry  was  a  Democrat  and  served  as  alderman  for 
three  terms.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Lutheran  Church.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
John  Jacob  Jontry  had  six  children:  Lena,  deceased;  James  E.,  the  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch;  Frank,  shoemaker,  Chenoa;  Harry,  engaged  in  the 
clothing  business  at  Chenoa;  Charles,  lives  at  Pontiac;  and  Marion,  har- 
nessmaker,  lives  at  Chenoa. 

James  E.  Jontry  has  always  lived  at  Chenoa.  He  was  educated  in 
the  public  schools  there  and  then  became  engaged  as  a  telegraph  operator 
and  agent  for  the  Toledo,  Peoria,  and  Western  Railroad  at  Chenoa.  Mr. 
Jontry  remained  in  the  employ  of  the  railroad  until  September,   1913, 


678  History  of  McLean  County 

when  he  was  appointed  postmaster  of  Chenoa.  He  has  filled  the  office  in 
a  most  efficient  and  trustworthy  manner,  and  is  favorably  known  through- 
out McLean  County. 

On  April  30,  1900,  Mr.  Jontry  married  Miss  Margaret  J.  McCormick, 
a  native  of  Illinois,  born  Sept.  12,  1877,  and  the  daughter  of  John  and 
Bridget  (Clooney)  McCormick,  natives  of  Ireland  and  early  settlers  of 
Illinois.  Mr.  McCormick  is  deceased  and  his  wife  lives  at  Chenoa.  They 
were  the  parents  of  the  following  children :  Frank,  lives  at  Sigel,  111. ; 
Anna,  married  Joseph  Knight,  lives  at  Pontiac,  111. ;  Agnes,  married  Will- 
iam Toomey,  lives  at  Chenoa;  Mrs.  Jontry;  William,  lives  in  Chicago; 
Walter  B.,  Delco  Light  Company,  Milwaukee,  Wis. ;  and  Gertrude,  mar- 
ried L.  M.  Bauman,  garage,  Chenoa.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jontry  five  chil- 
dren have  been  born:   Paul,  Mark,  Josephine,  Walter,  and  Eleanor. 

Mr.  Jontry  is  identified  with  the  Democratic  party  in  politics. 


William  H.  Hawthorne,  editor  and  owner  of  The  Chenoa  Clipper 
Times,  is  one  of  McLean  County's  prominent  citizens.  He  was  born  in 
Granville,  Putnam  County,  111.,  Dec.  20,  1890,  the  son  of  W.  E.  and  Emma 
Amelia   (Opper)   Hawthorne. 

W.  E.  Hawthorne  was  born  near  Granville,  111.,  where  he  has  resided 
for  many  years.  Mr.  Hawthorne  is  editor  of  The  Granville  Echo  and 
president  of  the  State  Bank  at  Granville.  He  has  devoted  considerable 
time  to  school  work  and  was  a  professor  in  Indiana  for  a  number  of  years. 
Mr.  Hawthorne  is  a  Republican  and  a  member  of  the  Congregational 
Church.  He  and  his  wife  live  at  Granville.  They  have  six  children,  as 
follows:  William  H.,  the  subject  of  this  sketch;  Orin  L.,  associated  with 
the  American  Writing  Paper  Company  in  Omaha,  Neb. ;  Helen,  married 
William  H.  Benson,  ranch  owner  of  Montana;  Marie,  at  home;  Charles 
F.,  engaged  in  the  newspaper  business  with  his  father;  and  Edward  E., 
also  in  business  with  his  father. 

William  H.  Hawthorne  received  his  education  in  the  public  and  high 
schools  at  Granville  and  attended  Wheaton  College.  He  then  was  em- 
ployed by  the  Blakley  Printing  Company  at  Chicago  for  five  years  and 
also  spent  several  years  in  the  newspaper  offices  with  his  father  before 
coming  to  Chenoa.  On  Dec.  1,  1915,  Mr.  Hawthorne  combined  two  news- 
papers and  called  it  The  Chenoa  Clipper-Times. 


History  of  McLean  County  679 

In  politics  Mr.  Hawthorne  is  a  Republican.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Methodist  Church  and  belongs  to  the  Masonic  Lodge.  The  Hawthorne 
family  have  always  been  progressive,  public  spirited,  and  citizens  of  real 
worth. 


Noah  H.  Pike,  now  living  retired  at  Chenoa,  is  a  veteran  of  the  Civil 
War  and  a  prominent  pioneer  business  man  of  McLean  County.  He  was 
born  at  Casco,  Maine,  Aug.  27,  1840,  the  son  of  Harrison  Wallace  and 
Susan  A.  (Mobberly)  Pike. 

Harrison  Wallace  Pike  was  a  native  of  Cornish,  Maine,  and  one  of  the 
earliest  settlers  of  Bloomington,  coming  here  with  his  family  in  1854. 
He  was  a  trader  during  his  life  and  established  the  Pike  House  during 
the  early  days,  which  was  the  first  hotel  west  of  Chicago.  Mr.  Pike  was 
a  Democrat  and  was  a  great  church  worker.  He  died  in  June,  1875,  and 
his  wife  died  in  1876.  They  were  the  parents  of  the  following  children: 
Edward  M.,  retired  lumber  man  and  sheriff  of  McLean  County,  lives  at 
Chenoa;  Noah  H.,  the  subject  of  this  sketch;  Susan,  married  James  San- 
ders, insurance  business  at  Bloomington;  I.  H.,  attorney,  retired,  Oak 
Park,  111.;  A.  H.,  now  deceased;  Anna  M.,  deceased;  Mary  Alice,  married 
Dr.  Ely  Gale,  both  deceased. 

Noah  H.  Pike  received  his  education  in  the  public  schools  and 
attended  the  first  high  school  at  Bloomington,  Demit  School.  He  then 
entered  the  lumber  business  with  his  brothers,  Edward  M.  and  A.  H. 
Pike.  They  are  among  the  oldest  lumber  men  of  McLean  County,  having 
engaged  in  the  business  since  1868.  Mr.  Pike  and  his  brothers  had  but 
eleven  dollars  as  capital  when  they  started,  but  by  hard  work  and  good 
management  they  became  prosperous  and  widely  known  business  men. 
Mr.  Pike  later  purchased  his  brothers'  shares  and  conducted  the  business 
alone  until  the  time  of  his  retirement,  Jan.  1,  1892.     He  lives  at  Chenoa. 

During  the  Civil  War,  Mr.  Pike  enlisted  for  service  in  Company  I, 
145th  Infantry,  from  Illinois  and  served  for  five  months.  He  now  receives 
a  pension  of  $72.00  each  month.  His  brother,  Edward  M.  Pike,  also 
service  during  the  Civil  War  and  was  wounded.  He  received  a  medal 
from  Congress.  Another  brother,  A.  H.,  served  in  the  army  at  the  age 
of  15  years  and  was  taken  prisoner  for  eight  months  during  the  war. 
I.  H.  Pike,  also  a  brother  of  Mr.  Pike,  served  during  the  Civil  War  and 
was  taken  prisoner. 


680  History  of  McLean  County 

On  May  2,  1869,  Mr.  Pike  married  Miss  Lucy  Helen  Shelton,  a  native 
of  Ohio,  born  Sept.  20,  1845,  and  the  daughter  of  James  and  Lucinda 
(Jolly)  Shelton,  parents  of  the  following  children:  George,  deceased; 
Sarah,  married  John  Varble,  both  deceased;  Mrs.  Pike;  Hattie,  deceased, 
was  the  wife  of  Lawrence  Brady ;  and  Edward,  lives  at  Bloomington,  Ind. 
Mr.  Shelton  died  in  1906  and  his  wife  died  in  1914.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Pike 
had  one  son,  Delmer  Elton,  who  died  in  infancy. 

Noah  H.  Pike  is  the  oldest  Mason  at  Chenoa  and  has  been  a  member 
since  1868,  and  has  held  almost  every  chair  in  the  local  lodge.  He  has 
served  as  alderman,  school  commissioner,  and  president  of  the  National 
Association  of  Lumber  Dealers.  He  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the 
Christian  Scientist  Church.  They  are  interesting  pioneers  of  the  county 
and  are  highly  respected  citizens. 


O.  F.  Dawson,  now  living  retired  at  Lexington,  is  the  owner  of  360 
acres  of  land  in  Lexington  and  Chenoa  townships,  and  a  member  of  one 
of  one  of  McLean  County's  prominent  pioneer  families.  He  was  born 
on  a  farm  one  and  one-half  miles  southwest  of  Lexington  and  were  among 
and  Arminta  (Adams)  Dawson. 

The  Dawson  family  is  of  Welsh  extraction  and  came  to  America 
during  the  first  settlement  of  Virginia.  James  R.  Dawson,  grandfather 
of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  born  in  Bourbon  County,  Ky.,  in  1794 
and  went  to  Madison  County,  Ohio,  in  1817,  where  he  and  his  family 
remained  until  1831,  when  they  moved  to  McLean  County.  They  settled 
on  a  farm  in  Lexington  Township,  May  19,  1857,  and  is  the  son  of  John 
the  earliest  settlers  of  the  county.  James  R.  Dawson  was  a  successful 
farmer  and  owned  240  acres  of  land.  His  wife  died  three  years  after 
coming  to  Illinois. 

John  Dawson,  father  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  and  son  of  James 
R.  Dawson,  was  born  in  Madison  County,  Ohio,  Dec.  4,  1820,  and  died 
in  1900.  He  followed  farming  during  his  life  and  became  the  owner  of 
700  acres  of  land  in  McLean  County.  Mr.  Dawson  went  to  California  in 
1875  and  remained  there  four  years.  He  then  lived  retired  at  Lexing- 
ton until  the  time  of  his  death.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Christian 
Church  and  a  Democrat.    Mr.  and  Mrs.  John  Dawson  were  the  parents  of 


0 

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History  of  McLean  County  681 

eight  children,  two  of  whom  are  now  living:  Thomas  A.,  extensive  farmer, 
who  lives  at  Lexington,  111. ;  and  0.  F.,  the  subject  of  this  sketch. 

O.  F.  Dawson  was  educated  in  the  schools  of  Lexington  and  has 
always  lived  in  McLean  County.  When  he  was  21  years  of  age,  Mr. 
Dawson  started  farming  on  his  father's  land  in  Chenoa  Township,  which 
he  later  became  heir  to.  He  made  extensive  improvements  on  the  place 
and  until  1915  Mr.  Dawson  was  among  the  leading  stockmen  of  the  county. 
He  lived  retired  at  Bloomington  for  one  year  and  now  lives  at  Lexington. 

On  Aug.  21,  1898,  Mr.  Dawson  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Catherine  Farr,  a  native  of  Yates  Township,  McLean  County,  and  the 
daughter  of  William  R.  and  Martha  Ellen  (Gallehugh)  Farr.  The  Farr 
family  came  to  McLean  County  from  Virginia  and  were  prominent  farmers 
of  Yates  and  Gridley  Townships.  To  0.  F.  and  Catherine  (Farr)  Dawson 
two  children  have  been  born,  as  follows:  Grace,  married  Benjamin 
Schifer,  lives  at  Chicago  and  they  have  two  daughters,  Grace  and  Glee 
Frances;  and  John  W.,  a  farmer  in  Lexington  Township,  married  Miss 
Helen  Crumbecker,  and  they  have  one  daughter,  Roslyn  Lynet. 

Mr.  Dawson  is  a  Democrat  and  a  member  of  the  Christian  Church. 
He  is  one  of  the  substantial  citizens  of  the  community,  where  the  Dawson 
name  has  always  stood  for  community  development  and  improvement. 


Dr.  Charles  Roy  Kerr,  a  prominent  physician  of  Chenoa,  is  a  vet- 
eran of  the  World  War.  He  was  born  at  North  Star,  Mich.,  Jan.  10,  1885, 
the  son  of  Alpheus  and  Addie  (Doty)  Kerr. 

Alpheus  Kerr  was  a  native  of  Ohio  and  an  early  settler  of  Michigan. 
He  later  moved  to  Brockport,  N.  Y.,  where  he  died  in  March,  1917.  Mr. 
Kerr  was  a  successful  farmer  and  fruit  grower  and  his  wife  owned  150 
acres  of  land  in  New  York.  He  was  a  Republican,  and  belonged  to  the 
Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows.  Mrs.  Kerr  now  resides  at  Brockport, 
N.  Y.  She  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  church.  They  were  the  parents 
of  three  children,  as  follows:  Anson,  farmer,  lives  at  Adams  Basin,  N. 
Y. ;  Dr.  Charles  Roy,  the  subject  of  this  sketch;  and  Luther  B.,  lives  in 
Rochester,  N.  Y. 

Dr.  Charles  Roy  Kerr  was  educated  in  the  public  and  high  schools 
of  Brookport,  N.  Y.,  and  then  was  graduated  from  medical  college  in 
Chicago  in  May,  1913.     He  was  then  connected  with  the  staff  of  a  Chi- 


682  History  of  McLean  County 

cago  hospital  for  twelve  months  and  later  practiced  at  Anchor,  111.  At 
the  outbreak  of  the  World  War  Dr.  Kerr  enlisted  for  service  and  received 
the  commission  of  first  lieutenant  at  Camp  Beauregard  in  Louisiana.  He 
still  holds  the  rank  of  first  lieutenant  in  the  medical  reserve  corps.  In 
October  22,  1923,  he  received  his  commission  as  captain.  Dr.  Kerr  took 
up  his  practice  of  medicine  at  Chenoa  on  October  1,  1919,  and  since  that 
time  has  built  up  a  large  practice  and  is  widely  known  as  an  able  physician 
and  a  high  class  citizen. 

On  March  15,  1915,  Dr.  Kerr  was  married  to  Miss  Jessie  Helen  Cor- 
bett,  a  native  of  Illinois,  and  the  daughter  of  John  W.  and  Catherine 
(Dacy)  Corbett,  the  former  a  native  of  New  York  and  the  latter  of  Mil- 
waukee, Wis.  Mr.  Corbett  now  resides  in  Chicago.  His  wife  died  April 
27,  1899.  They  had  three  children,  as  follows:  Mary  Ethel,  married  to 
A.  J.  Malboeuf,  lives  in  Ohio;  Mrs.  Kerr;  and  Edward  T.,  lives  in  Wis- 
consin. 

Dr.  Kerr  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  Lodge  and  was  commander  of 
the  American  Legion  at  Chenoa  No.  234,  in  1922  and  Vice-commander  in 
1923. 


Hugh  Vaughan,  deceased,  was  a  prominent  farmer  and  stockman  of 
McLean  County  for  many  years.  He  was  born  in  Montgomeryshire, 
Wales,  the  son  of  Edward  and  Elizabeth  (Edwards)  Vaughan. 

Both  Edward  Vaughan  and  his  wife  spent  their  entire  lives  in  Wales. 
They  had  six  children,  as  follows:  Jane,  deceased;  Hugh,  the  subject  of 
this  sketch ;  Robert,  deceased,  was  for  many  years  a  prosperous  gold  mine 
owner  in  Montana;  Edward,  deceased;  John,  lives  in  Wales;  and  Mary, 
lives  in  Wales. 

Hugh  Vaughan  came  to  the  United  States  when  he  was  21  years  of 
age,  making  the  trip  in  a  sailing  vessel.  He  lived  in  New  York  for  four 
years  and  then  came  to  Illinois  and  purchased  a  farm  in  Lexington  Town- 
ship, McLean  County.  Later,  Mr.  Vaughan  located  in  Chenoa  Township 
on  a  farm  of  240  acres.  He  became  a  prosperous  farmer  and  was  among 
the  leading  stockmen  of  the  county.  Mr.  Vaughan  helped  survey  the 
northern  part  of  McLean  County  when  the  roads  were  being  laid  out  and 
he  was  a  strong  advocate  of  better  schools  during  the  early  days.  He 
died  Jan.  7,  1907,  and  is  buried  in  the  Chenoa  Cemetery- 


History  of  McLean  County  683 

On  April  8,  1865,  Mr.  Vaughan  married  Miss  Ellen  Jones,  also  a 
native  of  Wales,  born  Nov.  19,  1838,  and  the  daughter  of  Hugh  and  Jane 
(Evans)  Jones,  both  deceased.  Mrs.  Vaughan  had  the  following  broth- 
ersers  and  sisters:  Rolland,  deceased;  Grace,  married  Thomas  Jones, 
deceased;  Elizabeth,  deceased;  Hugh,  deceased;  Jane,  lives  in  Wales; 
Margaret,  lives  in  Chicago;  John,  retired  farmer,  lives  in  Spokane, 
Wash. ;  Catherine,  lives  in  Wales ;  David,  banker,  Spokane,  Wash. ;  and 
Ivan,  merchant,  lives  in  Wales.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hugh  Vaughan  eight 
children  were  born,  as  follows:  Edward,  born  Sept.  24,  1866,  died  July 
24,  1892;  Viola,  married  Kenneth  Mclver,  ranchman,  lives  in  Great  Falls, 
Mont. ;  Hugh,  deceased ;  Mary,  lives  with  her  mother ;  Grace,  married 
Earl  Starkey,  lives  at  Mount  Pleasant,  Iowa;  Robert,  farmer,  Chenoa 
Township;  Margaret,  married  Frank  Thayer,  farmer,  lives  at  Chenoa; 
and  John,  farmer  and  stockman,  Chenoa  Township.  Mrs.  Vaughan  has 
13  grandchildren.  One  grandchild,  Angus  Vaughan  Mclver,  is  a  veteran 
of  the  World  War.  He  enlisted  at  Great  Falls,  Mont.,  and  was  instructor 
in  training  civil  engineers.  He  was  in  service  in  France  for  15  months 
and  also  with  the  reconstruction  army  in  Germany.  Mr.  Mclver  is  a 
graduate  of  the  University  of  Michigan  at  Ann  Arbor,  Mich. 

Mrs.  Vaughan  now  owns  80  acres  of  land  in  Chenoa  Township.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Vaughan  made  a  visit  to  Wales  after  being  in  this  country  for 
42  years  and  remained  there  for  four  months.  They  were  accompanied 
by  their  daughter,  Mrs.  Starkey. 

Hugh  Vaughan  was  a  Republican  and  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church.  He  was  an  excellent  citizen  and  merited  the  high  esteem  in 
which  he  was  held  by  the  community. 


Lloyd  Sarver,  a  veteran  of  the  World  War,  is  one  of  Chenoa's  enter- 
prising and  successful  young  business  men.  He  was  born  in  Shelby 
County,  111.,  Aug.  5,  1894,  the  son  of  Alonzo  and  Ella  Poteet  Sarver. 

Alonzo  Sarver,  a  native  of  Tennessee,  came  to  Illinois  many  years 
ago  and  settled  in  Shelby  County.  He  followed  farming  and  stock  rais- 
ing for  a  number  of  years  and  is  now  interested  in  the  produce  business 
at  Chenoa  with  his  son,  Lloyd,  the  subject  of  this  sketch.  Mr.  Sarver  is 
a  Republican  and  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Church.  He  and  his  wife 
reside  at  Chenoa,  and  have  but  one  child,  Lloyd  Sarver. 


684  History  of  McLean  County 

Lloyd  Sarver  was  educated  in  the  public  and  high  schools  of  Chenoa 
and  has  been  engaged  in  the  produce  business  since  1914  with  his  father. 
He  enlisted  for  service  during  the  World  War  and  was  sent  to  Camp  Brad- 
ley and  later  to  South  Carolina,  and  served  for  10  months  with  Battery 
B,  4th  Battalion.  Mr.  Sarver  was  the  first  commander  of  Ben  Roth  Post 
at  Chenoa,  American  Legion  Post  No.  234,  and  he  is  prominent  in  all 
activities  of  the  Legion.  Mr.  Sarver  and  his  father  deal  in  farmers' 
produce  and  also  have  a  place  of  business  at  Lexington,  111. 

On  March  10,  1920,  Mr.  Sarver  was  married  to  Miss  Erletta  Haus- 
halter,  a  native  of  Livingston  County,  111.,  and  the  daughter  of  E.  H.  and 
Ella  A.  (Curry)  Haushalter,  the  former  a  native  of  Ohio  and  the  latter 
of  Illinois.  Mr.  Haushalter  is  engaged  in  the  shipping  of  stock  from 
Chenoa,  and  does  an  extensive  and  profitable  business.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Haushalter  have  the  following  children:  Harvey  L.,  telegraph  operator, 
Chicago  and  Alton  Railroad,  lives  in  Chicago;  Paul,  deceased;  Lena,  de- 
ceased; Arietta,  born  Oct.  26,  1898,  the  wife  of  Lloyd  Sarver.  Mr.  Haus- 
halter is  a  prominent  citizen  and  has  always  taken  an  active  interest  in 
the  affairs  of  Chenoa.  To  Lloyd  and  Arietta  (Haushalter)  Sarver  one 
child  has  been  born,  Wayne  Lloyd,  born  Feb.  20,  1921. 

Mr.  Sarver  is  a  Republican,  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church, 
and  belongs  to  the  Masonic  Lodge.  He  is  well  known  in  McLean  County 
and  has  many  friends. 


Rudolph  Pershina  is  a  progressive  young  business  man  of  Chenoa 
and  a  veteran  of  the  World  War.  He  was  born  in  Toplice,  Austria,  April 
17,  1895,  the  son  of  John  and  Mary  Pershina. 

John  Pershina  was  a  native  of  Toplice,  Austria,  born  January,  1858. 
He  was  a  farmer  in  the  old  country  and  in  1890  came  to  the  United 
States  and  first  settled  at  Birmingham,  Ala.,  lived  there  nine  years  and 
worked  in  the  coal  mines  there.  He  made  a  trip  back  to  the  old  country 
in  about  1893  for  his  wife.  They  then  returned  to  the  United  States  and 
settled  near  Birmingham,  Ala.,  where  they  lived  about  five  years,  when 
they  came  to  Springfield,  111.,  where  they  are  both  now  living. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Pershina  have  four  children,  as  follows:  John, 
deceased ;  Mary,  married  Bert  Mlaker,  lives  in  Springfield,  111. ;  Rudolph, 
the  subject  of  this  sketch;  and  Albina,  lives  in  Springfield,  111. 


History  of  McLean  County  685 

Rudolph  Pershina  spent  his  boyhood  in  Springfield,  having  come  to 
this  country  in  1904.  After  attending  the  public  schools,  he  was 
employed  as  a  machinist  for  11  years,  and  spent  part  of  that  time  in  the 
employ  of  the  Firestone  Tire  Company,  Akron,  Ohio,  and  also  with  the 
Ford  Motor  Car  Company.  Mr.  Pershina  was  inducted  into  service  during 
the  World  War  and  served  with  the  64th  Company,  Battery  D,  Heavy 
Field  Artillery,  and  was  in  service  16  months,  eight  months  of  which 
was  spent  in  France  with  the  7th  Division.  He  was  on  the  firing  line 
for  three  months  and  discharged  April  3,  1919.  Mr.  Pershina  has  con- 
ducted a  tailoring  and  dry  cleaning  establishment  at  Chenoa  since  Feb. 
1,  1922,  and  during  that  time  built  up  a  successful  business. 

On  Aug.  25,  1921,  Mr.  Pershina  married  Miss  Fannie  Beyer,  a  native 
of  Illinois,  born  in  1893,  and  the  daughter  of  Frank  Beyer.  Frank  Beyer 
was  born  in  New  York  and  came  to  Missouri  where  he  engaged  in  farm- 
ing, and  later  came  to  Morton,  111.,  where  he  and  his  brothers  engaged  in 
the  electrical  business.  In  1901  there  was  an  explosion  in  the  plant, 
killing  two  children  of  Mr.  Moses  Beyer.  He  then,  after  the  explosion, 
engaged  in  general  farming  and  stock  raising  and  purchased  160  acres  of 
land  in  Tazewell  County,  111.,  which  he  improved,  which  he  later  sold  and 
bought  160  acres  in  Indiana,  and  now  owns,  having  a  tenant  on  same. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Frank  Beyer  now  live  at  Morton,  111.,  where  he  is  engaged 
in  the  feed  milling  business.  To  Rudolph  and  Fannie  (Beyer)  Pershina 
one  child  has  been  born,  John  Edwin,  born  May  18,  1922. 

Mr.  Pershina  is  a  Republican. 


Cornelius  Healy,  who  has  been  in  the  employ  of  the  Toledo,  Peoria 
and  Western  Railroad  for  45  years,  is  a  substantial  citizen  of  McLean 
County.  He  was  born  at  Galena,  111.,  April  25,  1857,  the  son  of  James  and 
Margaret  (Ryan)  Healy. 

James  Healy  was  a  native  of  Ireland,  as  also  was  his  wife.  He  came 
to  the  United  States  when  he  was  a  young  man  and  settled  in  New  York 
for  a  short  time,  and  later  came  to  Illinois  and  lived  at  Galena.  Mr.  Healy 
later  moved  his  family  to  Gilman,  111.,  where  he  died.  He  was  employed 
as  a  section  laborer  on  Illinois  Central  and  the  Toledo,  Peoria  and  Western 
railroads  during  the  many  years  he  lived  in  this  country.  Mrs.  Healy  died 
Jan.  1,  1913,  and  they  are  buried  at  Gilman,  111.     They  were  the  parents 


686  History  of  McLean  County 

of  the  following  children:  James,  deceased;  Cornelius,  the  subject  of  this 
sketch;  William,  section  foreman,  Toledo,  Peoria  and  Western  Railroad, 
lives  at  Gilman,  111. ;  Patrick,  a  passenger  conductor  on  the  Illinois  Cen- 
tral Railroad  and  has  the  run  known  as  Daylight  Special  between  Chicago 
and  St.  Louis,  lives  in  Chicago;  and  Mary,  married  William  Devlin,  con- 
ductor on  the  Illinois  Central  Railroad,  lives  at  Gilman,  111. 

Cornelius  Healy  was  educated  in  the  schools  at  Gilman  and  started 
life  railroading.  He  came  to  Chenoa  on  March  15,  1886,  and  has  been  in 
the  employ  of  the  Toledo,  Peoria  and  Western  Railroad  for  the  past  45 
years.  Mr.  Healy  is  one  of  the  pioneer  railroad  men  of  this  section  of 
the  state  and  is  now  section  foreman.  He  is  known  as  a  reliable  and  de- 
pendable citizen  and  his  record  with  the  railroad  during  his  many  years 
of  service  proves  that  he  is  efficient  and  capable. 

On  Feb.  9,  1887,  Mr.  Healy  was  married  to  Miss  Margaret  Kelley,  a 
native  of  Weston,  111.,  born  Sept.  29,  1866,  and  the  daughter  of  John  and 
Ann  (Flanigan)  Kelley.  Mr.  Kelley  was  born  in  Ireland  and  was  em- 
ployed on  the  Toledo,  Peoria  and  Western  Railroad  as  section  foreman 
for  a  number  of  years  at  Chenoa,  111.,  where  he  died.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kelley 
were  the  parents  of  the  following  children:  James,  deceased;  John,  de- 
ceased ;  Mrs.  Healy ;  Thomas,  deceased ;  William,  lives  at  Forrest,  111. ; 
Frank,  deceased ;  and  two  children  died  in  infancy.  Mr.  Kelley  died  Sept. 
1,  1886,  and  his  wife  died  Aug.  3,  1906.  To  Cornelius  and  Margaret  (Kel- 
ley) Healy  nine  children  were  born,  as  follows:  James,  born  March  3, 
1888,  lives  at  Fairbury,  111. ;  Rev.  John,  further  mention  of  whom  is  made 
below;  Mary,  further  mention  of  whom  is  made  below;  Francis,  born 
March  17,  1891,  deceased;  Vincent,  mention  of  whom  is  also  made  below; 
one  child  died  in  infancy ;  Margaret,  born  July  18,  1901,  has  taught  school 
for  one  year  and  lives  at  home;  Bernice,  born  April  15,  1906,  at  home; 
and  Cornelius,  Jr.,  born  April  3,  1910,  at  home. 

Rev.  John  Healy  was  born  at  Chenoa,  July  28,  1889,  and  was  or- 
dained to  the  priesthood  on  June  24,  1916,  being  the  first  priest  ever  or- 
dained from  Chenoa.  Rev.  Healy  is  located  in  the  Church  of  Our  Lady  of 
Sorrows,  Chicago. 

Mary  Healy  was  born  Sept.  27,  1890,  and  was  educated  in  the  grade 
and  high  schools  of  Chenoa  and  at  Illinois  State  Normal  School.  She 
taught  in  the  rural  schools  for  three  years  and  for  the  past  11  years  has 
taught  in  the  Chenoa  High  School.  Miss  Healy  is  one  of  the  pioneer 
teachers  of  Chenoa,  and  is  well  known  throughout  the  county. 


History  of  McLean  County  687 

Vincent  Healy  was  born  Oct.  6,  1896,  and  now  lives  in  Chicago.  He 
is  a  veteran  of  the  World  War,  having  enlisted  in  the  first  part  of  the 
war,  and  he  was  the  first  boy  to  enlist  from  Chenoa.  Mr.  Healy  was  sta- 
tioned at  Springfield,  111.,  and  later  sent  to  Texas.  He  served  in  Company 
G,  108th  Ammunition  Train,  and  was  in  France  for  13  months,  taking 
part  in  several  important  battles,  including  the  Toule  Drive,  the  Argonne 
Drive,  and  the  battle  of  Saint  Mihiel.  He  was  also  with  the  army  of  occu- 
pation in  Germany. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cornelius  Healy  have  three  grandchildren,  as  follows: 
Rose  Kathleen  Healy,  lives  at  Fairbury,  111.,  born  July  12,  1914;  Francis 
Healy,  born  Jan.  20,  1916,  lives  at  Fairbury,  111. ;  and  John  Healy,  born 
Sept.  26,  1921,  lives  at  Fairbury,  111. 

Cornelius  Healy,  Sr.,  is  a  Democrat  and  a  member  of  the  Catholic 
Church.  He  and  his  family  are  highly  respected  citizens  of  McLean 
County  and  have  many  friends. 


Elmo  Elson,  a  successful  young  farmer  of  Chenoa  Township,  was  born 
in  the  township  where  he  now  lives,  Aug.  4,  1898,  the  son  of  Lorenzo  and 
Mary  E.  (Bauman)  Elson. 

Lorenzo  Elson,  now  living  retired  at  Chenoa,  has  been  a  prominent 
farmer  and  stockman  of  McLean  County  for  a  number  of  years.  He  was 
born  in  Peoria  County,  111.,  and  engaged  in  general  farming  in  Pike  Town- 
ship, Livingston  County,  for  a  number  of  years.  When  he  was  25  years 
old  Mr.  Elson  moved  to  Chenoa  Township,  where  he  now  owns  474  acres 
of  land.  Mr.  Elson  is  a  Democrat  and  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church.  There  are  six  children  in  the  Elson  family,  as  follows:  Leta  I., 
married  Peter  Claudon,  farmer,  Chenoa  Township;  Gilbert,  farmer,  Che- 
noa Township;  Lester  I.,  further  mention  of  whom  is  made  below;  Elmo, 
the  subject  of  this  sketch;  Ira,  farmer,  lives  in  Gridley  Township;  and 
Raymond,  lives  at  Chenoa. 

Elmo  Elson  grew  up  on  his  father's  farm  and  received  his  education 
in  the  public  schools.  He  now  operates  234  acres  of  land,  which  belongs 
to  his  father.  Mr.  Elson  has  lived  on  this  farm  in  Chenoa  Township 
since  1919  and  has  Shorthorn  cattle  and  Duroc  Jersey  hogs.  His  wife 
raises  Rhode  Island  Red  chickens  extensively  and  now  has  about  300 
on  hand. 


688  History  of  McLean  County 

On  Dec.  22,  1921,  Elmo  Elson  was  married  to  Miss  Vera  Wessels,  a 
native  of  Yates  Township,  McLean  County,  born  March  30,  1901,  and  the 
daughter  of  Jons  and  Katherine  (Myers)  Wessels.  Both  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Wessels  are  natives  of  Germany  and  now  live  retired  at  Fairbury,  111. 
They  are  the  parents  of  the  following  children:  Anna,  married  David 
Munz,  farmer,  lives  near  Fairbury,  111. ;  Martin,  farmer,  lives  in  Yates 
Township;  Jennie,  married  Paul  Munz,  a  farmer,  Indian  Grove  Township, 
Livingston  County;  John,  farmer,  lives  in  Yates  Township;  Fred,  farmer, 
lives  near  Fairbury,  is  a  World  War  veteran,  having  served  in  the  army 
for  13  months,  10  of  which  were  spent  in  France  and  in  the  Army  of 
Occupation;  Frank,  also  a  veteran  of  the  World  War,  having  served  with 
the  33d  Division  overseas  for  six  months,  when  he  contracted  rheumatism 
and  scarlet  fever;  Minnie,  married  Donald  Ortman,  a  farmer,  lives  in 
Livingston  County ;  and  Mrs.  Elson.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Elmo  Elson  has  been 
born  one  child,  Marshall  Wayne,  born  Aug.  13,  1923. 

Lester  I.  Elson,  a  brother  of  Elmo  Elson  has  been  unable  to  do  any- 
thing since  the  World  War.  He  was  inducted  into  service  from  Bloom- 
ington  and  was  in  service  for  10  months,  seven  of  which  were  spent  over- 
seas with  the  135th  Machine  Gun  Battalion,  35th  Division.  He  contracted 
rheumatism  and  was  in  a  government  hospital  for  about  four  months 
and  now  lives  at  Chenoa.  Mr.  Elson  married  Miss  Gladys  Paden,  a  native 
of  Kentucky. 

Elmo  Elson  is  a  Democrat  and  a  member  of  the  Masonic  Lodge.  He 
and  his  wife  are  well  known  throughout  McLean  County  and  have  many 
friends. 


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